I'm a Chatterbox preps for Del 'Cap in Obeah

A minor injury incurred last month by I'm a Chatterbox forced a change of summer plans for the four-year-old filly. Rather than duke it out against some of the division's best in the Ogden Phipps (G1) at Belmont Park Saturday afternoon, the Grade 1 winner instead heads a field of five in the $100,000 Obeah at Delaware Park.

The 1 1/16-mile Obeah is a prep for the $750,000 Delaware H. (G1), a 1 1/4-mile race scheduled for July 16.

"Right now, the Delaware H. is our number one goal," trainer Larry Jones said. "Hopefully, the Obeah and the Delaware H. will set her up for some of the big races at Saratoga later on, but right now, the Delaware H. remains our number one priority."

A three-time graded stakes winner last season, including the Cotillion (G1) and Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), I'm a Chatterbox kicked off this season with a runner-up effort in the April 22 Doubledogdare (G3) at Keeneland.

"We considered the Ogden Phipps, but she sprained an ankle about a month ago, so we ended up missing a major work that we needed for that race," Jones said. "But this race fell into a great spot for a backup plan, plus we get a trip over the track before the Delaware H. I like that side of it.

"'Chatterbox' has never got a shot run to here even though she has been spent a lot of time here, so we are really looking forward to it."

I'm a Chatterbox was installed the 3-5 morning line favorite for the nine-furlong Obeah.

The likely second choice is Calamity Kate, who famously upset the Jones-trained Lovely Maria, the Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner, in last summer's Delaware Oaks (G3) at odds of 54-1. Later second to I'm a Chatterbox in the Cotillion, Calamity Kate was a distant fourth in the May 14 Ruffian (G2) in her season debut.

(Bill Denver/Equi-Photo)