I'm a Chatterbox Works in Preparation for Doubledogdare

Fletcher and Carolyn Gray’s homebred I’m a Chatterbox turned in her third Keeneland breeze Sunday morning in preparation for her 2016 debut in Friday’s 22nd running of the $100,000 Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare (G3). With Florent Geroux aboard for trainer Larry Jones, the 4-year-old Munnings filly worked five furlongs in 1:00.60.

Clockers caught I’m a Chatterbox in fractions of :12, :23.80, :35.60, 1:00.60 and out in 1:14.

Jones was pleased with the move.

“That was about as slow as we could keep her without getting in a wrestling match with her,” he said. “She worked so fast last week (a bullet :58.80 for five furlongs on Monday) that she didn’t have to do a whole lot today. She did it really well, just what we were looking for.”

Winner of four stakes last year, including the Cotillion (G1), with seconds in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Alabama (G1) and a third in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), I’m a Chatterbox has five wins in 11 starts and earnings of $1,304,614 and has not raced since she finished eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) here in October.

Jones said the Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare fit the filly’s schedule.

“We were letting her bring herself back (after the layoff),” he said. “We weren’t in a hurry. We really weren’t trying to get ready for any particular race. You could tell she was getting ready. I thought the Apple Blossom (G1 on April 15 at Oaklawn) might be a little tough coming off that long layoff. She had broken her maiden at Keeneland, so we liked that.

“And,” he added with a grin, “I wanted to prove to myself that running in the Breeders’ Cup, it wasn’t wrong. She does like Keeneland. This is a good spot.”

Entries for the Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare, a 1 1/16-mile race for older fillies and mares, will be taken Tuesday.

MASON ADDS BACK IN DIXIE TO HILLIARD LYONS DOUBLEDOGDARE CAST

The prospective field for Friday’s $100,000 Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare (G3) has grown by one with the addition of Backin Dixie for owner-trainer Ingrid Mason.

“She has won five in a row and deserves a chance,” Mason said of the 4-year-old Put It Back filly who worked a bullet five furlongs on April 1. “It looks like there is only going to be five or six in there and the race sets up nicely for her. If she hits the board, it will boost her value as a broodmare.”

Two other Mason fillies are looking for starts about 75 miles west of Keeneland at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Weekend.

Joe Ragsdale’s Sarah Sis, winner of last fall’s Lexus Raven Run (G2) here, is a candidate for the $300,000 Humana Distaff (G1) at seven furlongs on May 7. Sarah Sis had been pointed to the April 9 Madison (G1) here but spiked a fever a week before the race.

“She has had two easy works and has recovered nicely,” Mason said of Sarah Sis.

Ragsdale also owns Marquee Miss, winner of the Martha Washington at Oaklawn in February and most recently third in the Bourbonette Oaks (G3) at Turfway Park.

Those performances earned her 20 points toward the Kentucky Oaks (G1), good for 17th in the standings for the race that is limited to the top 14 point earners that pass the entry box.

“I think we have a shot to get in,” Mason said. “The owners want to run if she can get in.”

The $200,000 Eight Belles (G2) at seven furlongs on May 6 would be the other option for Marquee Miss should she not get in the 1 1/8-mile Oaks.

GALLOPING OUT

Reddam Racing’s undefeated Nyquist backtracked one circuit of the main track before the Sunday morning renovation break under exercise rider Jonny Garcia. Alongside a pony with assistant trainer Jack Sisterson up, the Uncle Mo colt walked to the eighth pole and then jogged the remainder of his one lap around.

“It was a good day,” Sisterson said of Nyquist’s return to the track for the first time since working five furlongs in 1:02.60 on Friday. “Normal routine tomorrow: jog one and gallop one.”

Trainer Doug O’Neill is scheduled to return to Lexington Wednesday with Nyquist slated to have the second of three scheduled Keeneland works Friday. …

“Preakness (G1), here we come,” trainer Eric Guillot said Sunday morning about McCormick Racing and Southern Equine Stable’s Laoban, fourth in the April 9 Toyota Blue Grass (G1). Following yesterday’s Arkansas Derby (G1), the final race to award points to qualify to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), Laoban does not have enough points to earn a spot in the starting gate. Guillot said the Uncle Mo colt would remain at Keeneland to train for the Preakness on May 14.

Trainer A.C. Avila said Lexington (G3) runner-up One More Round left Keeneland early Sunday morning to return to his Southern California base. “He is going back home and we are going to break his maiden and then pick some spots,” Avila said.

Avila’s other Saturday starter, Doyouknowsomething, finished fourth in the Ben Ali (G3) after missing the break. …

Trainer James Toner said fifth-place Coolmore Jenny Wiley finisher Recepta came out of the race fine in her first start of 2016 and would be pointed to the $150,000 Beaugay (G3) on May 14 at Belmont Park. Like the Coolmore Jenny Wiley, the Beaugay is run at 1 1/16 miles.

WORK TAB

On Sunday, Sam-Son Farm’s millionaire Up With the Birds worked seven furlongs on the firm turf in 1:34 in preparation for an expected 2016 debut in Saturday’s $250,000 Dixiana Elkhorn (G2) for trainer Graham Motion.

Trainer Chad Brown worked two nominees to the closing-day Bewitch (G3) in company. Michael Dubb and Sheep Pond Partners’ Danza Cavallo (FR) and Martin Schwartz’s Olorda (GER) worked a half-mile in :50.20 after an opening quarter-mile of :26.60.

Another Bewitch nominee to work on the turf was Maria Santa Stable’s Salama, who covered five furlongs in 1:02 for trainer Charlie LoPresti.

PROBABLE ENTRANTS FOR UPCOMING STAKES

$100,000 HILLIARD LYONS DOUBLEDOGDARE (G3) (entries taken Tuesday, race Friday) – Ahh Chocolate, Angela Renee, Back in Dixie, Curalina, I’m a Chatterbox, White Clover.

$250,000 DIXIANA ELKHORN (G2) (entries taken Wednesday, race Saturday) – A Red Tie Day, Idolo Porteno (ARG), Kaigun, Royal Albert Hall (GB), Twilight Eclipse, Up With the Birds.

UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS

Sunday, April 17

Kids Club Family Day. All Keeneland Kids Club members and their families receive free general admission and access to reserved Grandstand seating. Children’s activities include face painting, crafts and more in the North Terrace from noon to 3 p.m. The Salvation Army will provide free lemonade as part of its LemonAiD Days fundraising program that benefits children at The Salvation Army Emergency Homeless Shelter in Lexington.     

SPRING MEET LEADERS

Through April 16 (seven days of racing)

*Includes partnerships.

 Source: Keeneland