Close Hatches Claims Ogden Phipps Stakes
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Close Hatches continued her winning streak in the $1 million Ogden Phipps Stakes (g. I) June 7 at Belmont Park, turning back the closing bid of Princess of Sylmar and picking up the pieces as even-money favorite and two-time champion Beholder finished fourth .
Close Hatches, a 4-year-old daughter of First Defence trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott and ridden by Joel Rosario for owner Juddmonte Farms, completed the 1 1/16-mile test in 1:40.55 on a fast track. Princess of Sylmar was a head back in second after trailing early in the field of six older fillies and mares.
"She ran super, she ran out of ground, we needed just one more jump," trainer Todd Pletcher said of the 2013 Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner.
Antipathy finished a neck back on the inside to complete the trifecta, edging Beholder.
"She kept trying hard the whole way; maybe she wasn't comfortable with her surroundings," Hall of Fame horseman Richard Mandella said of the California-based filly, who was making her first start in New York.
Close Hatches, bred in Kentucky by Millsec out of the Storm Cat mare Rising Tornado, came off a victory in the Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) and before that won the Azeri Stakes (gr. II), both at Oaklawn Park. She earned an automatic berth to the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park. The Ogden Phipps is a "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge event.