I'm a Chatterbox Works Toward Kentucky Oaks

Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) winner I'm a Chatterbox continued her preparations for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) with a five-furlong workout in 1:01 1/5 at Keeneland Race Course the morning of April 19.



A 3-year-old daughter of Munnings   trained by two-time Oaks winner Larry Jones for owners Fletcher and Carolyn Gray, I'm a Chatterbox was the first horse on the track following the renovation break. The track was labeled fast as light rain fell in the Lexington area Sunday morning.



With jockey Florent Geroux aboard, I'm a Chatterbox recorded fractions of :12, :23 3/5, and :36 while galloping out six furlongs in 1:14 4/5. It was her first work since her Fair Grounds Oaks March 28 and was the co-sixth fastest time of the day among 28 horses working the distance.



"Florent was smiling when he came back and that was good," Jones said. "She was not blowing hard at all and it was an easy work on her."



"She worked just like she has prior to her last three races," said Geroux, who began partnering with I'm a Chatterbox in January has ridden her in a three-stakes win skein that also includes the Silverbulletday and Rachel Alexandra Stakes (gr. III). "I had a good hold on her and she got a good feel for the track."



Geroux, who never has ridden in the Kentucky Oaks, sees a different filly today than the one in January.



"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."



Jones, who won the Oaks with Proud Spell (2008) and Believe You Can (2012), also trains another Oaks contender, Lovely Maria, winner of the Central Bank Ashland (gr. I) April 4.



Jones said I'm a Chatterbox and Lovely Maria will ship to Churchill Downs Friday, April 24, and work there Sunday, April 26.

"Proud Spell (2008) and Believe You Can (2012) both were doing very well going into the Oaks and these two are very similar," he said.



With $430,714 in career earnings, I'm a Chatterbox is tied with Condo Commando at the top of the Oaks points standings, with 161.