BackTrack: Close Hatches Sends Message in Apple Blossom

The country's older female division appears stacked this year, and Juddmonte Farms' Close Hatches figures to be one of its major players.

Close Hatches padded an already sterling résumé with a front-running 1 1/4-length victory in the $588,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) April 11.

"We had been pointing for this race for three months," Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said. "It's always nice when a plan comes together."

The Apple Blossom, the seventh victory in 10 lifetime starts for Close Hatches, increased her earnings to $1,847,300. She was a two-time grade I winner last year for Prince Khalid Abdullah's Judd­monte operation.

Close Hatches is a 4-year-old daughter of First Defence, who stands at Judd­monte Farms near Lexington.

Close Hatches was bred by Abdullah's Millsec subsidiary.

"She was from the first crop of First Defence, so we were obviously paying close attention to what they all looked like," said Garrett O'Rourke, Juddmonte's farm manager. "She was always the star of his first crop. I'm glad to say she's got a full sister born this year, a foal who's like a clone of her. Hopefully, she can run half as good as her. She was always pretty special." 

The Apple Blossom was a virtual repeat of the March 15 Azeri Stakes (g2)—the final major local prep—when Close Hatches, again breaking from the rail, grabbed the lead and controlled the pace from the outset under Joel Rosario.

Defending Apple Blossom champion On Fire Baby, who chased Close Hatches from the start, finished second. Under top weight of 121 pounds, Close Hatches covered 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:42.75. She was the 7-10 favorite.

Following his record fourth Apple Blossom victory, Mott said Close Hatches will be pointed to the $1 million Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) June 7 at Belmont Park. The race is also expected to lure two-time champion Beholder and multiple grade I winner Princess of Sylmar.

Beholder and Close Hatches ran 1-2 in last year's $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), while Princess of Sylmar was last of six after stumbling at the start. 

"I'm sure the Phipps, having a million-dollar pot, will nearly be like a Breeders' Cup race," Mott said. "I'm sure everybody with a good one is going to show up."

Beholder, Princess of Sylmar, and Close Hatches were 2013 finalists for an Eclipse Award as the country's 3-year-old filly champion.