BC Distaff: Race shape changes after Spinster flop by Close Hatches

ARCADIA, Calif. – The field for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff was expected to be trimmed, and the odds for early favorite Close Hatches were expected to drop. Instead, the opposite occurred over the weekend.

Close Hatches misfired Sunday at Keeneland, finishing fourth as the 1-5 favorite in the Grade 1 Spinster Stakes. It was the first loss of the season for the Bill Mott-trained, Juddmonte Farms-owned filly.

The performance jeopardizes her Distaff status, though no decision has been made. Juddmonte racing manager Garrett O’Rourke said Monday there would be no rush. Close Hatches was scheduled to return to Mott’s stable at Belmont Park on Tuesday.

“We’ll have to wait a week or two and see how she’s doing,” O’Rourke told Keeneland publicity. “She owes us nothing for the year we’ve had with her. It would be nice to get to the Breeders’ Cup and give her a shot at the championship.”

Close Hatches won her first four starts of 2014, including three Grade 1 races. She finished second in the 2013 Distaff won by Beholder.

With the loss by Close Hatches, the list of possible Distaff candidates grew to 10, and Beholder re-emerged as the preliminary favorite by Daily Racing Form. Beholder won her Sept. 27 comeback and is 8 for 9 at Santa Anita.

Kentucky Oaks winner Untapable, the current Distaff co-second choice with Close Hatches, posted her first Santa Anita workout since her Parx comeback Sept. 20. Untapable worked an easy half-mile Sunday in 51.80 seconds.

Don’t Tell Sophia jumped into the Distaff picture, winning the Spinster by 2 1/2 lengths with a 94 Beyer Speed Figure. It was the first Grade 1 win for the 6-year-old mare, trained by Phil Sims. She has won 11 of 22 starts, including eight of her last 13. Early indications are that Don’t Tell Sophia will ship to Santa Anita for the first time for the Breeders’ Cup.

Ria Antonia, the upset winner via disqualification in the 2013 BC Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita, added blinkers for the Spinster and finished second. Her 90 Beyer was the highest of her career. She also is in the Distaff picture.

Others dropped out. The previously undefeated Emerald Downs invader Stopshoppingdebbie bled through Lasix while finishing fifth in the Grade 3 L.A. Woman Stakes, a sprint, and is off the Breeders’ Cup trail. Sweet Reason missed training for treatment of an eye ulcer and is likely to be steered into the BC Filly and Mare Sprint.