I'm a Chatterbox Pointed to BC Distaff

Trainer Larry Jones reported all was well with runaway Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (gr. I) winner I'm a Chatterbox the morning after her Oct. 9 victory at Keeneland.

Her seven-length victory Sunday secured a spot in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I), to be run Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park—a spot Jones would not have considered had I'm a Chatterbox not earned a fees-paid trip to the race.

"I didn't want to put up $60,000 to run against Songbird, Beholder, and Stellar Wind," Jones said. "We would not have gone."

I'm a Chatterbox finished eighth in last year's Distaff, which was run at Keeneland.

"Last year she was a 3-year-old going against older horses for the first time," Jones said. "This year she is a lot more mature and she is bigger and stronger, so we've got that going for us. Hopefully the results will be different."

Owned by breeders Fletcher and Carolyn Gray, I'm a Chatterbox has raced only five times this season and will have had two fewer starts entering the Breeders' Cup than she had last year.

"We got started a little later this year with her," Jones said. "Last year she was on the road to the (Longines) Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) and raced a lot early in the year."

The Spinster marked the third grade I win for I'm a Chatterbox and the $300,000 winner's check pushed her earnings above $2 million.

"She's only had one little hiccup this year," Jones said. "After her first race here this year (the grade III Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare in April) we were going to run in the Ogden Phipps (gr. I) at Belmont Park June 11) but she missed a work before the race and we opted to stay at Delaware Park for the Obeah and we got through that. That's been the only issue all year."

Jones has not confirmed shipping plans to California but indicated he would like to wait as long as possible before leaving Keeneland.