I'm a Chatterbox Takes Rachel Alexandra
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Fletcher and Carolyn Gray's homebred I'm a Chatterbox, winner of the Jan. 17 Silverbulletday Stakes at a mile and 70 yards, rallied to win the $175,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 21 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots .
The 3-year-old filly by Munnings covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.10 on a fast track, with Lovely Maria finishing 2 1/2 lengths back in second and Forever Unbridled finishing a neck back in third.
The winner paid $8.60, $5.40, and $4. Lovely Maria returned $5.80 and $4.40, and Forever Unbridled returned $5.20. The $2 exacta returned $51.40.
I'm a Chatterbox, who set the pace from the rail in the Silverbulletday, came from off the pace in the Rachel Alexandra. Winning rider Florent Geroux scored a stakes triple on the day.
It was a Rachel Alexandra exacta for trainer Larry Jones, who also sent out Calumet Farm's White Clover.
Longshot Pleasant Tales got the early advantage, but it was White Clover that set the opening quarter-mile in :23.19 and half-mile in :46.98. Pleasant Tales stalked, as did Lovely Maria.
I'm a Chatterbox was well off the early pace and came with a wide run around the turn after six furlongs in 1:12.05. She was moving best of all at the head of the lane and pulled clear for the win.
"She just relaxed on her own," Geroux said. "Coming from the 10-hole, we had to either go, sit very close, or take back. When everyone went, I decided to take her back and she was relaxing very nicely. I kept an eye on Rafael (Bejarano) on (Angela Renee) and made him stay with horses a little longer, and made him wait a little bit. My filly was very nice. Even if he would have come with me head-to-head from the half-mile pole to the finish line, my filly was the best today."
The winner is out of the Lost Soldier mare Chit Chatter. She is now two-for-two at Fair Grounds and has a 3-0-1 mark from five career starts. She broke her maiden at first asking at Keeneland in October, then was third against allowance optional claiming foes at Churchill Downs prior to finishing fourth in the Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II). The Silverbulletday was her 2015 debut.
Forever Unbridled was followed by Angela Renee, Shook Up, West Coast Belle, White Clover, Pleasant Tales, Harbour Island, and Freudie Anne.
"She overcame the outside post and it will kill you here," Jones said. "She sat well, but she had done that in her first race, so we weren't too concerned about that. The horse on the inside was setting a good pace, so we knew there was a legitimate pace to close into for her. Lovely Maria worked out a good trip for herself, so we were really happy with all three horses. (I'm a Chatterbox) is awfully game. She has a world of talent."
The Rachel Alexandra is a prep for the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) at 1 1/16 miles. Two of the last three winners of the Oaks went on to win the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I): Untapable last year and Believe You Can (trained by Jones) in 2012.