Juddmonte Farms' Close Hatches, undefeated in four races in 2014, headlines a compact field of six fillies and mares entered for the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (gr. I) Oct. 5 at Keeneland.
The 1 1/8-mile Spinster is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" race for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) to be run Oct. 31 at Santa Anita Park. The Spinster will go as the ninth on Sunday's 10-race program with an approximate post time of 5:45 p.m. EDT.
Close Hatches will try to give Juddmonte and Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott a second straight victory in the race sponsored by the farm, following the triumph of Emollient last year.
Close Hatches opened her 2014 campaign with a victory in the Azeri (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park and followed that with successive grade I victories in the Apple Blossom, Ogden Phipps, and Personal Ensign.
Regular rider Joel Rosario has the call and will break from post 2 aboard the 4-year-old daughter of First Defence.
Looming as the top challenger to Close Hatches is Don't Tell Sophia, a 6-year-old Congaree mare owned by trainer Philip Sims and Jerry Namy.
Third to Close Hatches in the Azeri, Don't Tell Sophia was away from the races for nearly six months before returning to win the Locust Grove at Churchill Downs Sept. 6. Joe Rocco Jr. has the mount from post 5.
Bill Cubbedge's Molly Morgan also enters the Spinster out of the Locust Grove, in which she finished second. Winner of the Fleur De Lis (gr. II) at Churchill in June, the 5-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper is trained by Dale Romans and will be ridden by Corey Lanerie. She will exit post 6.
Invading from overseas is Godolphin Racing's Shuruq, a three-time group winner in Dubai and winner of the International Istanbul Trophy (Tur-III) in Turkey in her most recent start. Julien Leparoux has the mount on the Elusive Quality filly from the 4 hole.
Completing the field are 3-year-olds Got Lucky, fifth in the Alabama (gr. I) last time out, and Ria Antonia, fourth in the Locust Grove in her most recent start.
Keeneland, Sunday, October 05, 2014, Race 9Entries: Juddmonte Spinster S. (G1)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Ria Antonia (KY) Paco Lopez 121 Thomas M. Amoss - 2 2Close Hatches (KY) Joel Rosario 124 William I. Mott - 3 3Got Lucky (KY) Rosie Napravnik 121 Todd A. Pletcher - 4 4Shuruq (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 124 Saeed bin Suroor - 5 5Don't Tell Sophia (KY) Joseph Rocco, Jr. 124 Philip A. Sims - 6 6Molly Morgan (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 124 Dale L. Romans -
