Close Hatches and Royal Delta prep for Breeders' Cup 2013
Photo: Rick Samuels
Close Hatches - Breeders Cup - October 31, 2013
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Close Hatches Works at Belmont Park on October 26, 2013.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Cotillion.
Photo: Chad B. Harmon
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Cotillion.
Photo: Mark Wyville/EQUI-PHOTO
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Cotillion.
Photo: Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Cotillion.
Photo: Chad B. Harmon
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Cotillion.
Photo: Barbara Weidl/EQUI-PHOTO
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Mother Goose.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Mother Goose.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Mother Goose.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Mother Goose.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Mother Goose.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Mother Goose.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Mother Goose.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Gazelle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Mother Goose.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches - Churchill Downs, May 2, 2013.
Photo: Mathea Kelley
Close Hatches - Churchill Downs, May 2, 2013.
Photo: Chad Harmon
Close Hatches - Churchill Downs, April 30, 2013.
Photo: Rick Samuels
Close Hatches - Churchill Downs, April 30, 2013.
Photo: Rick Samuels
Close Hatches, with Joanna Trout up, works towards the Kentucky Oaks.
Photo: Reed Palmer Photography/Churchill Downs
Close Hatches preps for the Kentucky Oaks 4/28/2013.
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Close Hatches - Churchill Downs, April 21, 2013.
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Close Hatches works at Churchill Downs 4/21/2013.
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Close Hatches works at Chruchill Downs 4/21/2013.
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Gazelle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Gazelle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Gazelle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Gazelle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Gazelle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Gazelle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos/Adam Mooshian
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Gazelle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Gazelle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Gazelle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Gazelle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Gazelle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Gazelle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Gazelle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Gazelle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Gazelle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Gazelle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos/David Alcosser
Close Hatches wins the 2013 Gazelle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos/David Alcosser| Trainer | William I. Mott |
|---|---|
| Jockey | Joel Rosario |
| Owner | Juddmonte Farms, Inc. |
| Breeder | Millsec, Ltd. |
| Close Hatches View Five-Cross Pedigree | First Defence | Unbridled's Song |
| Honest Lady | ||
| Rising Tornado | Storm Cat | |
| Silver Star (GB) |
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Beholder's smashing victory in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) ensured her a second consecutive Eclipse Award. She was voted champion 3-year-old filly of 2013 over finalists Princess of Sylmar and Close Hatches.
Perhaps no Eclipse Award category overflowed with more talent than among the 3-year-old fillies of 2013. They performed admirably against each other and then went out and defeated the best of their older counterparts.
Smooth as silk under jockey Gary Stevens, Beholder vanquished both two-time champion Royal Delta and Princess of Sylmar while rolling to an open-lengths victory in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) Nov. 1.
Lenny Shulman updates the news of the day including track work by Royal Delta, Close Hatches, and Mucho Macho Man. watch video
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott oversaw Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) contenders Royal Delta and Close Hatches as they stretched their legs at Santa Anita on Oct. 29 after arriving from New York the day before.
The Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) may only have a field of six, but they have created perhaps the most riveting puzzle in the entire series this year.
Trainer Bill Mott said he was happy with the final works by Royal Delta and Close Hatches at Belmont Park Oct. 26 before they head to California for the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I).
Led by champion Royal Delta and Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) contender Ron the Greek, horses conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott got in their Belmont Park works Oct. 19 in advance of the Nov. 1-2 Breeders' Cup.
Steve offers some early thoughts on the Breeders' Cup. read blog
Close Hatches secured a second straight grade I victory Sept. 21 when she passed Test Stakes (gr. I) winner Sweet Lulu turning for home and held off all challengers in the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (gr. I).
Grade I winners Sweet Lulu and Close Hatches will meet on the track for the first time when an accomplished group of 3-year-old fillies starts in the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 21 at Parx Racing.
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Leading commercial sire Unbridled's Song is still looking for his true heir as a stallion, and he may have found it in First Defence.
Close Hatches became Juddmonte Farms' newest grade I winner when she captured the $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) June 22 at Belmont Park, leaving heavily favored Dreaming of Julia behind on the turn and cruising home.
Stonestreet Stables' homebred Dreaming of Julia is the 1-2 morning line favorite in a light edition of the $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park, where just four other 3-year-old fillies will challenge.
Dreaming of Julia stood out on a busy worktab for trainer Todd Pletcher June 16, breezing a half-mile over the Belmont Park training track in 49.07 for the upcoming $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I).
Midnight Lucky more than made up for her lackluster fifth-place performance in the May 3 Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) when the Bob Baffert-trained filly unleashed a powerful 6 1/4-length victory in the May 25 Acorn Stakes.
Grade II winner Kauai Katie will stretch out to take on Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) also-rans Midnight Lucky and Close Hatches while those two turn back in distance in the $300,000 Acorn Stakes (gr. I) May 27 at Belmont.
Dreaming of Julia is the freshest on the minds of most leading up to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) due to her extraordinary 21 3/4-length victory in the March 30 Gulfstream Park Oaks (gr. I).
Dreaming of Julia, the remarkable 21 3/4-length winner of the March 30 Gulfstream Oaks (gr. II), drew post 8 of 11 sophomore fillies and was installed the 3-1 favorite for the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).
Juddmonte Farms' Close Hatches drills a half-mile in :47 2/5 in advance of the May 3 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). The daughter of First Defence is unbeaten in three starts, all this year.
Here are some of the explanations I received on this year's stellar field of contenders. Which one is your favorite? read blog
Calumet Farm's Broken Spell was ruled out of the Kentucky Oaks the morning of April 23 by trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Trainer Bob Baffert said Fiftyshadesofhay will also not contend.
Juddmonte Farms' undefeated filly Close Hatches had her first Churchill Downs work in preparation for the May 3 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), breezing a half-mile in :47 4/5 over a fast track under exercise rider Joanna Trout.
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands contender Verrazano galloped at Churchill Downs the morning of April 15 as trainer Todd Pletcher outlined the training regimen for the colt and his other probable Derby starters.
Close Hatches led at every pole, repelled Princess of Sylmar in deep stretch, and drew away to keep her unbeaten record intact, registering her first stakes score in the $250,000 Gazelle Stakes (gr. II) April 6 at Aqueduct.
King of Prussia Stable's impressive Princess of Sylmar takes a step up into graded company April 6 in the $250,000 Gazelle Stakes (gr. II) at Aqueduct Racetrack, facing a talented field of sophomore fillies.
| Awesome Baby |
| Cairo Prince |
| Wildcat Red |
| Intense Holiday |
| Shared Belief |
| Samraat |
| Lea |
| Rachel Alexandra |
| Mucho Macho Man |
| Top Billing |
