‘Chatterbox’ Gets Her Grade I

This year’s 3-year-old filly division has been mostly a revolving door, with Lovely Maria (Majesticperfection) tossing her hat into the ring early in the season with scores in the GI Ashland S. and GI Kentucky Oaks back to back. Curalina (Curlin) announced herself as a possible title contender courtesy of her victories in the GI Acorn S. and GI CCA Oaks (via DQ), but Embellish the Lace (Super Saver) doused those flames, at least somewhat, with a coast-to-coast tally in the GI Alabama S. All the while, I’m A Chatterbox (Munnings) has been lying in wait, a Grade III and a Grade II to her credit over the winter before placings in the Kentucky Oaks, the CCA Oaks and the Alabama. The homebred’s comprehensive success in Saturday’s Cotillion S., the final age-restricted Grade I, keeps her in the discussion for year-end honors.

Saturday, Parx
COTILLION S.-GI, $1,000,000, PRX, 9-19, 3yo, f,
1 1/16m, 1:44.48, ft.
1–&I’M A CHATTERBOX, 122, f, 3, by Munnings
1st Dam: Chit Chatter (MSP, $120,945), by Lost Soldier
2nd Dam: Bedroom Chatter, by Cure the Blues
3rd Dam: Bedroom Window, by Linkage
($30,000 RNA Ylg ’13 KEESEP). O/B-Fletcher & Carolyn (KY); T-J. Larry Jones; J-Florent Geroux. $564,000. Lifetime Record: 10-5-2-2, $1,304,614. *First GISW for sire (by Speightstown). Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: B+. [bullet ad=”ricehorse-graduate”] 2–Calamity Kate, 122, f, 3, Yes It’s True—Justmeandmyshadow, by Tiznow. O-George & Lori Hall; B-K & G Stables (KY); T-Kelly J. Breen. $188,000.
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3–Peace and War, 117, f, 3, War Front–More Oats Please, by Smart Strike. ($300,000 Ylg ’13 KEESEP). O-Qatar Racing; B-Sally J. Andersen (FL); T-H. Graham Motion. $103,400.
Margins: 2, 2 1/4, 1. Odds: 2.10, 22.40, 6.10.
Also Ran: Eskenformoney, Embellish the Lace, Stroke Play, Pangburn, Don’tforgetaboutme, Keen Pauline, Tara’s Tango, Take Charge Brandi. Scratched: Desert Valley.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

A maiden winner in three outings for the Ken McPeek barn in 2014, I’m A Chatterbox exploded onto the scene with a change to the Larry Jones stable at the Fair Ground, annexing the Jan. 17 Silverbulletday S. by eight lengths Jan. 17 before besting stablemate Lovely Maria in the GIII Rachel Alexandra S. Feb. 21. The chestnut easily added the GII Fair Grounds Oaks Mar 28 and was far from disgraced when a running-on third to Lovely Maria and the New Orleans-based Shook Up (Tapit) beneath the Twin Spires May 1. I’m A Chatterbox crossed the line a nose better than Curalina in the CCA Oaks July 26, but was subsequently demoted to second and could not quite reel in loose-on-the-lead Embellish the Lace when last spotted in the Alabama four Saturdays prior.

In the capable hands of the hot-riding Florent Geroux, I’m A Chatterbox had the eight hole to deal with, but was able to get down all the way onto the rail as GII Delaware Oaks victress Calamity Kate was intent on the lead and set the pace from Embellish the Lace as champion Take Charge Brandi (Giant’s Causeway) landed in an apparently ideal spot in third. Calamity Kate retained the advantage, but Javier Castellano asked just enough from Embellish the Lace to prevent that one from dropping down to the inside, and Geroux had a fistful of horse scraping paint atop the race favorite. Asked to improve three-eighths from the money, I’m A Chatterbox was steered out three wide going supremely well as Peace and War (War Front) caught the eye with an inside run on the turn. Calamity Kate carried a precarious advantage into the final furlong and a half, but that was short-lived, as I’m A Chatterbox drove to the front at the eighth pole and proved a much-the-best winner, while Calamity Kate clung on well for second ahead of Peace and War in third.

I’m A Chatterbox is the first Grade I winner for her sire, who has also been represented this season by GII Del Mar Derby winner Om. Her multiple stakes-placed dam is represented by 2-year-old Say It Slow (Haynesfield) and a yearling colt by The Factor, who was bought back by the Grays when bidding stalled out at $285,000 Saturday afternoon at the Keeneland September sale. Chit Chatter is the dam of a weanling filly by Flat Out and returned to Munnings this past breeding season.