I’m a Chatterbox Tunes up for Oaks

Fletcher and Carolyn Gray’s I’m a Chatterbox (Munnings) tuned up for the May 1 GI Longines Kentucky Oaks with a five-furlong drill in 1:01.20 at Keeneland Sunday. Jockey Florent Geroux was aboard the filly, who galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.80. 

“Florent was smiling when he came back and that was good,” trainer Larry Jones said after the work. “She was not blowing hard at all and it was an easy work on her.” 

I’m a Chatterbox is unbeaten in three starts this year, taking the Jan. 17 Silverbulletday S. before victories in the Feb. 21 GIII Rachel Alexandra S. and Mar. 28 GII Fair Grounds Oaks. 

“She worked just like she has prior to her last three races,” said Geroux. “I had a good hold on her and she got a good feel for the track.” 

Geroux has ridden I’m a Chatterbox in all three 2015 outings and he said the filly has improved with each start. 

“She is more mature and stronger,” Geroux said. “She is doing things the right way and she is very versatile [in her running style], which is a good thing.” 

Still hoping to make it into the gate for the Oaks, Qatar Racing’s Peace and War (War Front) worked a half-mile in :47.60. The filly won last year’s GI Darley Alcibiades S., but was last in the GI Central Bank Ashland S. in her only start this year. 

“Why worry about rain and work on the turf when the Oaks is what we came for?,” trainer Olly Stevens said. “I am praying that we get in. If we get a shot, that is where we want to go.” 

The Oaks field is limited to 14 starters and, with 10 qualifying points, Peace and War would need eight fillies to defect from the race to make it into the starting gate. 

“She has done well since the Ashland,” Stevens added, “She had a little skin infection and missed one day of training, but had a nice work [last Monday]. She did well this morning and I had her in :47 and a shade. It is frustrating. She was the fourth-ranked filly in the world last year and under the old system she would be in the top 10. I know she is a good filly. Maybe I underestimated how taxing the dirt track could be.” 

Peace and War is also nominated to the GIII Eight Belles S. on the main track and the GIII Edgewood S. on the turf, both on May 1 at Churchill.