Chatterbox Looks Tough in Del 'Cap

I'm a Chatterbox (Munnings), an Eclipse Finalist for champion 3-year-old filly last season, returns to the highest level for Saturday's GI Delaware H. After sweeping the sophomore filly series at Fair Grounds last winter, the Carolyn and Fletcher Gray homebred checked in third in the GI Kentucky Oaks in May. She resurfaced to cross the wire a nose to the good of talented Curalina (Curlin) some 51 weeks ago in the

GI Coaching Club American Oaks, only to be placed second by the stewards for interference. Completing the exacta back in Saratoga in the GI Alabama S. at this trip in August, the chestnut earned her first Grade I with a convincing score in Parx's Cotillion S. in September. She failed to make much impact after traffic trouble in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland Oct. 30, and resurfaced back in Lexington for the Apr. 22 GIII Doubledogdare S., only to finish second at 1-2 after never really getting to stretch her legs until it was too late. She laid over the field on paper for the local Obeah S. June 11, and aired by 8 1/2 lengths despite a less-than-perfect journey. The chestnut will be looking to provide trainer Larry Jones–who is winning at a near 50% clip for the meet–with his second Delaware H. title following Island Sand (Tabasco Cat)'s score in 2005.

The favorite's stiffest competition figures to come from Paid Up Subscriber (Candy Rider {Arg}). The Al Stall, Jr. pupil spent the first six starts of her career sprinting, but has shown in her last two to be better as the distances get longer. Third on seasonal debut in a 6 1/2-panel Keeneland allowance Apr. 8, the chestnut annexed a one-mile heat on Kentucky Oaks day at Churchill May 6. Stretched further out to nine panels for that venue's GII Fleur de Lis H. June 18, she scored by three lengths over Brooklynsaway (Giant Gizmo), who shocked I'm a Chatterbox at 25-1 in the Doubledogdare.

Penwith (Bernardini) ran away with Gulfstream's GII Royal Delta S. in February, but faded to fourth at Santa Anita in the GI Santa Margarita S. Mar. 19. She was a well-beaten last of six behind Curalina after a wide trip in the GI La Troienne S. under the Twin Spires on the same day as Paid Up Subscriber's two-back tally.