I’m a Chatterbox Rolls in $500,000, G1 Juddmonte Spinster

LEXINGTON, KY (Oct. 9, 2016) – Fletcher and Carolyn Gray’s homebred I’m a Chatterbox swept past pacesetting Paid Up Subscriber at the head of the stretch and drew away for a seven-length victory to win the 61^st running of the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) for fillies and mares. The Sunday afternoon crowd of 18,454 boosted the Oct. 7-9 Fall Stars Weekend attendance to a record 66,437, topping the 62,454 figure established in 2006.

Trained by Larry Jones and ridden by Florent Geroux, I’m a Chatterbox earned a fees-paid berth to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) to be run Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.

Also earning a trip to Santa Anita was Gary Barber’s Keep Quiet (FR), who won the 26^th running of the $250,000 Dixiana Bourbon (G2) for 2-year-olds to gain a starting gate spot for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) on Nov. 4.

In the Juddmonte Spinster, Paid Up Subscriber, ridden by Jose Ortiz, took the lead out of the gate with I’m a Chatterbox racing to her outside about a length back. Paid Up Subscriber posted fractions of :23.98 and :48.30 through the first half mile before being joined midway on the far turn by I’m a Chatterbox, completing six furlongs in 1:12.57.

The two briefly raced as a team before I’m a Chatterbox spurted away at the top of stretch en route to completing the 1 1/8 miles on a fast main track in 1:49.98.

The victory was worth $300,000 and boosted I’m a Chatterbox’s earnings to $2,209,614 with a record of 16-8-3-2 that includes three Grade 1 victories.

I’m a Chatterbox, a Keeneland September Yearling Sale graduate, is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Munnings out of the Lost Soldier mare Chit Chatter.

She returned $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10. Paid Up Subscriber paid $3.20 and $2.10 and finished five lengths in front of Genre, who paid $2.10 to show under Javier Castellano. Engaginglee finished fourth another 3¾ lengths back.

Quotes from the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1)

Larry Jones (winning trainer of I’m a Chatterbox)

“She ran really big. When it came time to run, she really exploded down the lane very nice. It seems like her numbers are getting better after every race, so I think she’s at the peak right now. We hopefully have room for improvement.”

On facing a strong field in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita

“I think this may be the deepest Distaff that I have seen in a long time. There’s seven really good horses. I’m putting her right there with them.”

Florent Geroux (winning rider)

“She broke very sharply today, which sometimes can be an issue with her. Sometimes she can break a little step slow or flat-footed. Today she broke very sharp, which allowed us to take a great position, where I wanted to be. She was nice and relaxed. When I asked her to go down the lane, she gave me a very nice kick. I was like, ‘Wow. They’re going to have to go fast to catch me.’ ”

Jose Ortiz (rider of runner-up Paid Up Subscriber)

“Perfect trip. She broke well today. I felt going into the first turn that if I let Florent (on I’m a Chatterbox) go in front of me, he was going to slow down the pace too much. I didn’t want that. She relaxed well for me on the front, but was just second best. That other filly, a lot of credit to her. She’s just a phenomenal horse.”

Javier Castellano (rider of third-place finisher Genre)

“She was third best today. Those two first horses (pacesetter Paid Up Subscriber and I’m a Chatterbox) opened up on the rest of the field. My filly can run. Every time I asked her, she responded. I am very satisfied with third place in the race.”

Luis Saez (rider of fourth-place finisher Engaginglee)

“No excuse. When we turned for home, the others took off.”

Keeneland