Close Hatches breezes four furlongs in preparation for BC Distaff

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Bill Mott admits the poor performance by Close Hatches in the Grade 1 Spinster two weeks ago still has him puzzled. But after watching his filly train Sunday at Belmont Park, he remains steadfast about giving her another chance in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, a race in which she finished second last year.

Working by herself over the main track after the renovation break Sunday, Close Hatches breezed four furlongs in 49.12 seconds, according to Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch. Exercise rider Steve Schmez was up for the move.

“She was going fine, and Steve was on her, and he thought she felt great,” Mott said. “I really wasn’t looking for any more than that. He never nudged her or anything. She seemed to be moving very well to me from what I could tell.”

The work was the first for Close Hatches since her fourth-place finish as the heavy favorite in the Spinster at Keeneland. It was her first loss in five starts this year, a year in which she has won three Grade 1 races.

“I’m willing to give her another opportunity, that’s for sure,” Mott said. “Do you draw a line through [the Spinster]? The race definitely has me scratching my head a little bit. I think we already know she’s better than that.”

Mott said jockey Joel Rosario told him Close Hatches didn’t handle the track at Keeneland.

“He doesn’t say that too often,” Mott said.

Close Hatches may have inherited the role of favorite for the Distaff with the news Sunday that Beholder, the defending Distaff winner, would miss the race due to a fever.

Close Hatches was one of seven Breeders’ Cup horses Mott worked Sunday.

Cigar Street, his contender for the Classic, worked five furlongs in 59.72 over the main track. He was asked to finish by exercise rider Juan Quinteros. Cigar Street galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.53.

“He’s kind of a big, laid-back horse. He’ll do what you make him do,” Mott said. “That’s just him. [Quinteros] sat on him ’til he was approaching the eighth pole, he gave him a little tap, and he let him go on, and it looked like to me that he was coming to the wire, and he was anticipating pulling up. I asked him to try and get a good gallop out in him today.”

Seek Again, who finished a troubled sixth in the Shadwell Turf Mile, worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 on the turf. He worked in company with the filly Filimbi, who is being pointed to the Goldikova Stakes at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.

Other workers for Mott included Tourist, who went five-eighths in 1:02.87 on the training track for the BC Mile; Bio Pro, who worked five furlongs in 48.33 over the training track in preparation for the Turf Sprint; and Puca, who went a slow half-mile in 51.22 over the training track in preparation for the Juvenile Fillies.

Pletcher quartet works

Trainer Todd Pletcher worked five horses he’s pointing to the Breeders’ Cup on Sunday morning.

Carpe Diem, the Breeders’ Futurity winner, worked four furlongs in 48.41 over the training track, finishing about a half-length in front of Blofeld. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.79 and six furlongs in 1:14.78.

Daredevil, the Champagne winner, worked four furlongs in 48.83 in company with Divine Oath.

Both Carpe Diem and Daredevil are pointing to the Juvenile.

Feathered, preparing for the Juvenile Fillies, went a half-mile in 50.07 in company with Enchantress.

Capo Bastone, pointing to the Dirt Mile, went four furlongs in 48.86.

On the turf, Isabella Sings worked five furlongs in 1:02.14 over the turf in preparation for the Juvenile Fillies Turf.