I'm a Chatterbox Rallies to Cotillion Victory

I'm a Chatterbox swept clear to her first grade I victory Sept. 19 at Parx Racing, taking the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (gr. I) while favored at odds of 2-1 in a field of 11 3-year-old fillies.

Fletcher and Carolyn Gray's homebred daughter of Munnings   also became her sire's first grade I winner when she took the 1 1/16-mile test by two lengths in 1:44.48, rallying from fourth past 22-1 pacesetter Calamity Kate with authority. Grade I winner Peace and War completed the trifecta at odds of 6-1.

I'm a Chatterbox, who will now target the Oct. 30 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) at Keeneland. found better racing luck under jockey Florent Geroux this time out than she did in her past two starts for trainer Larry Jones. She was disqualified to second in the Coaching Club American Oaks Stakes (gr. I) after she interfered with winner Curalina, then was squeezed at the break of the Alabama Stakes (gr. I), after which lugging in down the stretch cost her some momentum. In the Alabama she was 1 1/4 lengths second behind Embellish the Lace.

Geroux found a good stalking spot early on the inside when angling over from post 8, and I'm a Chatterbox was content to rate behind Calamity Kate's opening fractions of :23.56 and :47.59. The chestnut filly made a steady advance and shifted out as three-quarters went in 1:12.21, collaring the leader while running a 1:37.89 mile and edging away under steady encouragement.

I'm a Chatterbox returned $6.20, $3.40, and $2.60, while Calamity Kate paid $18.80 and $8.20. Peace and War brought $4, followed home by Eskenformoney, Embellish the Lace, Stroke Play, Pangburn, Don'tforgetaboutme, Keen Pauline, Tara's Tango, and Take Charge Brandi, who was eased. Desert Valley scratched.

Bred in Kentucky out of the Lost Solider mare Chit Chatter, I'm a Chatterbox has finished no worse than third in six starts this season—all stakes, five of them graded —with victories in the Silverbulletday, Rachel Alexandra (gr. III), Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II), and Cotillion. She was third in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) behind fellow Jones trainee Lovely Maria. This latest win improves her record to 5-2-2 from 10 career starts for earnings of $1,304,614.