Life Talk Adds Blinkers, Looks to Rebound in Gazelle

A change of equipment and a return to the site of her greatest victory might do the trick for Repole Stable's Life Talk  in the April 6 Gazelle Stakes (G3).

Fourth in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), Life Talk bounced out of the World Championships with a dominant, 3 3/4-length tally in the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack. The daughter of Gun Runner   became a filly to watch on the Kentucky Oaks (G1) trail after that win, which made her last-place finish in her 2024 debut all the more frustrating for her connections. After being bet down to less than even money, Life Talk checked in eight lengths behind the victorious Power Squeeze  in the Feb. 10 Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

"It was disappointing no matter how you slice it," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "We're going to put some blinkers on her. Her last couple of breezes have been with blinkers and seem to have her a little more dialed in as well.

"She ran a good race in the Demoiselle and has a win over the track at the distance, so I felt like it made sense to take her back there," Pletcher added. "Hopefully, she can recover with a good effort and see her run to her capabilities."

A win in the $200,000 Gazelle could propel Life Talk back into the Oaks picture. The 1 1/8-mile contest offers Road to the Oaks qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale.

Life Talk, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. in her past six starts, will have the services of Kendrick Carmouche for the Gazelle.

The Brad Cox-trained duo of Gin Gin  and Barbatina look to be foremost among Life Talk's rivals on Saturday. Calumet Farm's homebred Gin Gin enters the Gazelle in the 15th slot on the Oaks points leaderboard. The Hightail  filly has accrued 41 points from her performances at ages 2 and 3, highlighted by a score in the Jan. 13 Busanda Stakes at the Big A. Gin Gin appears to be one who will relish the stretchout to 1 1/8 miles. She failed to stay with the top two (Jody's Pride  and fellow Gazelle contender Carmelina ) when running third in last month's Busher Invitational Stakes at a mile.

Cox's other entrant, Barbatina, exits a late-running second-place finish to Maxisuperfly  in the Cincinnati Trophy Stakes over the Turfway Park synthetic. Prior to being trained by Cox, the Catholic Boy   filly broke her maiden by five lengths on the dirt last summer at Ellis Park.

Manny Franco and Joel Rosario have the calls on Gin and Barbatina, respectively.

Hot Fudge Rides Five-Race Win Streak into Distaff

KEM Stables' Hot Fudge , a driving force in New York's filly and mare sprinting ranks throughout the winner, faces her biggest test yet in Saturday's $175,000 Distaff Handicap (G3). The 5-year-old daughter of Liam's Map  enters the seven-furlong Distaff off a five-race win streak for trainer Linda Rice. All but one of those wins came at Aqueduct.

Regular rider Kendrick Carmouche takes the reins on Hot Fudge, the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the field of six.