I'm a Chatterbox steps back out in Cotillion
A rematch between the top two finishers in the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga earlier in the summer resulted in a completely different result in today’s Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx. Whereas Embellish the Lace ran her foes off their feet in the Alabama despite I’m A Chatterbox’s best efforts, today it was I’m A Chatterbox who emerged triumphant.
Take Charge Brandi and jockey Luis Saez won the break, but Calamity Kate immediately went out for the lead and got it from her outside post. Embellish the Lace moved up the rail from post 2 to protect her position and grab the second running position, relegating Take Charge Brandi to third and I’m A Chatterbox with Florent Geroux in the irons took up position in fourth.
With those four maintaining their positions, the opening quarter was put up in :23.56 and the first half in :47.59. At the ¾-pole, the running positions had changed drastically as Take Charge Brandi had lost a lot of ground and was back in 8th. Calamity Kate still had the lead, however, and had put up the split in 1:12.21.
Off the turn, Calamity Kate continued on and Don’tforgetaboutme was in with a chance after making a huge middle move that brought her within striking distance of the leaders. Down on the inside, Peace and War made a bid for the lead after saving all the ground, and Embellish the Lace was still there, too. But as those fillies struggled to make headway, Larry Jones trained I’m A Chatterbox swept past Calamity Kate to the outside en route to an easy 2 length win in a final time of 1:44.48 for the 1 1/16 mile affair on a fast track.
Calamity Kate held second and Peace and War got up for third. Eskenformoney rounded out the exacta, and Embellish the Lace faded to fifth. Stroke Play, Pangburn, Don’tforgetaboutme, Keen Pauline, Tara’s Tango and Take Charge Brandi completed the order of finish.
As the 2-1 favorite, I’m a Chatterbox returned $6.20/$3.40/$2.60. Calamity Kate, a 22-1 outsider, paid $18.80/$8.20, and Peace and War paid $4.00 off 6-1 odds. The $2 exacta paid $99.00, the $0.50 trifecta returned $112.65 and the $0.10 superfecta was worth $174.19.
By Munnings and out of the Lost Soldier mare Chit Chatter, I’m A Chatterbox is owned and bred by Carolyn and Fletcher Gray. The winner of both the G3 Rachel Alexandra and the G2 Fair Grounds Oaks at Fair Grounds, the filly continued to race well throughout the spring and summer, running 3rd in the G1 Kentucky Oaks, 2nd in the G1 Coaching Club American Oaks after being disqualified from first and 2nd in the G1 Alabama Stakes. Today’s victory gave I’m A Chatterbox her first grade 1 victory and first stakes victory outside of the Fair Grounds. She improved her record to 10: 5-2-2 for purse earnings of $1,340,614.