I'm a Chatterbox looks to silence rivals

West Coast Belle and Angela Renee could maintain their spot in the top five of the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with good enough efforts in Saturday's $175,000 Rachel Alexandra S. (G3) at Fair Grounds.

The duo, both graded winners, have been assigned to carry the top weight of 122 pounds in the 1 1/16-mile affair but shouldn't have any problems with the impost having already toted that much in the past.

They'll be going up against some tough fillies in the race including, at least in West Coast Belle's case, some who have finished in front in the past.

West Coast Belle will be trying to get back to her winning ways after suffering her first loss when fourth in Fair Grounds' Silverbulletday on January 17. That was the gray filly's first start as a three-year-old after finishing 2014 unbeaten in three races.

Trained by Wayne Catalano, West Coast Belle broke her maiden at Monmouth Park in September before shipping to Churchill Downs to gain some valuable experience under the Twin Spires. She romped by 6 ¾ lengths in the Rags to Riches S. going a mile then stretched out even farther to take the Golden Rod S. (G2) in late November.

The filly was the 2-1 second choice in the Silverbulletday in her sophomore bow, but was no match for a loose-on-the-lead I'm a Chatterbox. The favorite from that race, Top Decile, could actually be off the Oaks trail after her poor sixth-place performance. Trainer Al Stall Jr. has mentioned he might shorten Top Decile up and they are regrouping as of now.

But getting back to the Rachel Alexandra, West Coast Belle will have to face I'm a Chatterbox once again on Saturday. That latter filly was making her first start for a new trainer after going 1-0-1 from three starts under Kenny McPeek's tutelage. Like West Coast Belle she closed out her juvenile campaign in the Golden Rod, finishing fourth at 18-1.

I'm a Chatterbox wasn't given much consideration in the Silverbulletday, sent off at 8-1, despite having a not-so-secret advantage: the chestnut miss had joined the barn of Larry Jones, who is undeniably good with the fillies.

One eight-length romp in the Silverbulletday merely bolstered that fact and I'm a Chatterbox probably won't get away at such high odds again on Saturday.

Angela Renee began her career on the East Coast – breaking her maiden at Belmont Park before placing in Saratoga's Spinaway S. (G1) and Adirondack S. (G2) – but celebrated her biggest win to date when taking Santa Anita Park's Chandelier S. (G1) on the West Coast in late September.