I'm a Chatterbox Works at Keeneland

Grade I winner I'm a Chatterbox worked a brisk five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 April 17 at Keeneland. The work was her final prep for her first start of the year, the April 22 $100,000 Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare Stakes (gr. III).

Trainer Larry Jones said the 4-year-old daughter of Munnings  , owned by Fletcher and Carolyn Gray, is coming off her five-and-half month layoff bigger and stronger.

"I think she is a little more laid back; I think she is learning to relax," Jones said.

Regarding the work, Jones said the pace was "about as slow as we could keep her without getting into a wrestling match."

"She worked so fast the last time, we didn’t have to do a lot with her," he said. I’m a Chatterbox’s previous two five-furlong works at Keeneland were performed handily in under a minute. She went in :59 April 4, followed by a quicker work April 11 in :58 4/5. Clockers caught I’m a Chatterbox in fractions of :12, :23.80, :35.60, 1:00.60 and out in 1:14.

Jones said he was not aiming for any particular race for I’m a Chatterbox. He picked the Doubledogdare because it simply fit her schedule the best.

"We let her bring herself back," he said. "We thought the Apple Blossom might be little tough coming off a long layoff… and this came up better. She broke her maiden at Keeneland, so we like that."

Entries for the 1 1/16-mile Doubledogdare for older fillies and mares will be taken April 19. Probable starters include grade I winners Angela Renee and Curalina, grade II winner Ahh Chocolate, Back in Dixie, and White Clover.

He added jokingly: "I also wanted to prove to myself that running the last time in the Breeders’ Cup here wasn’t wrong." I’m a Chatterbox’s last start was in the Oct. 30 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (gr. I), where she finished eighth. The Distaff was her only off-the-board finish in 2015, when she won the Cotillion Stakes (gr. I), Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II), and the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (gr. III).