Belmont's Ogden Phipps next target for Close Hatches

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Close Hatches spent a quiet morning at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, taking advantage of some well-earned grazing time following her powerful, front-running win in the Grade 1, $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap on Friday. It was her second graded stakes score in two starts this year, the other being the Grade 2, $200,000 Azeri in her 4-year-old debut March 15. Close Hatches is now targeting the Grade 1, $1 million Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park on June 7.

“I think she’s earned a ticket into the race at Belmont,” said Bill Mott, who trains Close Hatches for Juddmonte Farms. “I’m sure the Phipps, having a $1 million pot, will be nearly like a Breeders’ Cup. I’m sure everybody with a good one is going to show up.”

Close Hatches ran in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff, and finished second to Beholder. She was freshened, and since earlier this year had the objective of the Apple Blossom, said Mott, who won the race for the fourth time in his career Friday.

“We gave her some time out, and brought her back, and [from] January we were sort of pointing in this direction,” he said.

The Apple Blossom was the third Grade 1 win for Close Hatches, who last year captured the Mother Goose and Cotillion to rank as a finalist for champion 3-year-old filly of 2013.

“It looks like she’s holding her form,” Mott said. “It’s tough enough to win one Grade 1, but when you can win them as a 3-year-old and then come back another year and win them as a 4-year-old, it’s a sign of a very, very good horse.”

Close Hatches led throughout to win the 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom in a sharp 1:42.75.

On Fire Baby, who won last year’s Apple Blossom, chased Close Hatches throughout and finished second by 1 ¼ lengths.. It was her second start of the year, one race after finishing fourth in the Azeri.

“I thought that it was a great race, at this level,” said Anita Cauley, who bred and owns On Fire Baby. “We knew that she’d improve off her last race just because we got to train consistently [due to improved weather]. So, we were thrilled. We were actually screaming and celebrating, and some people were saying, ‘Do they know they only got second?’ Yeah…which is really tough to do in these kinds of races.”

Cauley and trainer Gary Hartlage said On Fire Baby’s next start is to be determined, but she is being considered for the Grade 1, $300,000 La Troienne at Churchill Downs on May 2. She was second by a head in last year’s running, noted Hartlage. He said On Fire Baby, along with the rest of the stable, is scheduled to ship to Churchill on Monday.

“We’ll regroup, get her back home, and go from there,” said Cauley.