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Contact: Michael Adolphson, Staff Writer, 504.948.1255, Michael.Adolphson@fgno.com
I’M A CHATTERBOX QUITE THE CLAMOUR IN SILVERBULLETDAY ROMP
NEW ORLEANS (January 17, 2015) – Fletcher and Carolyn Gray’s homebred I’m a Chatterbox proved her recent string of quick local works – including two consecutive bullets going into today’s race – were anything but ‘all talk’ when she sounded off and dismantled a quality field of sophomore fillies by eight lengths in Saturday’s 23rd running of the $125,000 Silverbulletday Stakes. Leaving in her wake three stakes winners and a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up, the daughter of Munnings made her first start for trainer Larry Jones a winning one when she and pilot Florent Geroux made all the running en route to an impressive romp.
Ridden confidently by Geroux after breaking alertly from the rail, I’m a Chatterbox set fractions of :23.43, :47.93, 1:12.92 and 1:38.81 en route to a final time of 1:43.21 for the one mile and 70-yard event. The win improved her record to two wins in four starts, while the $75,000 winner’s share of the purse increased her career earnings to $123,614. A distant second was Charles Fipke’s Dallas Stewart-trained homebred Forever Unbridled – a full-sister to 2014 Silverbulletday winner Unbridled Forever – who closed from fifth to out-game George and Lori Hall’s Kelly Breen-trained Florida invader Money’soncharlotte by a head in what was her first start outside of maiden ranks after a couse and distance victory in December. Favorites Top Decile (even money) and West Coast Belle (2-1) failed to fire their best shots in the Silverbulletday and did not hit the board.
Sent off at nearly 9-1, I’m a Chatterbox paid $19.20, $9.40 and $6 in her initial Jones foray after commencing her career with conditioner Kenny McPeek. Geroux, who was riding the filly in the afternoon for the first time, had been aboard her in her last two works – including a bullet (five furlongs in 1:00 flat) on Jan. 12 where she reportedly outworked graded stakes-wining older horse and stablemate Albano. Forever Unbridled, under Brian Hernandez, Jr., paid $6 and $4.60 at odds of 6-1, while Money’soncharlotte, with Robby Albarado, paid $6.60 to show at odds of 28-1.
“I had her in a good spot and she was moving easily after getting to the front easy,” said Geroux, who was winning his second stakes of the meet. “She was going fast, but she had plenty left in the tank down the lane.”
Jones, who was winning his second stakes of the day after taking the Listed $75,000 Louisiana Stakes with Hard Aces two races prior, was over the moon with his filly’s performance. “This was our first time running her because she was coming from another barn, but I didn’t have any game plan. I told Florent ‘ride her like you own her and need the money really bad,” he beamed.
Hernandez was delighted with his charge’s performance. “She ran boldly; an incredible race,” he said. “She is coming forward. We had a great trip outside in the clear the whole way and our filly loomed up there turning for home and ran an incredible race for it being only her third run.” Trainer Stewart echoed his sentiments. “She ran huge to run like that out of a maiden,” he said.
West Coast Belle, Divine Dawn, Top Decile, Queen’s Ready, Zooming and Slava completed the order of finish.
About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 11 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 143rd Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 102nd running of the Louisiana Derby – will run from November 2014 through March 2015. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.
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