Oaklawn Park: Close Hatches begins season in Azeri
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – With the Grade 1 winners Close Hatches and On Fire Baby launching their seasons, and Don’t Tell Sophia on a stakes tear, the Grade 2, $200,000 Azeri at Oaklawn Park on Saturday should be an insightful prep for next month’s Grade 1, $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap.
The Azeri, a mile and a sixteenth race that last year was a Grade 3, has drawn a seven-horse field befitting of its class ascent. Close Hatches was an Eclipse Award finalist for 3-year-old filly of 2013 and comes off a runner-up finish in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. On Fire Baby won last year’s Apple Blossom. Don’t Tell Sophia captured the Grade 2 Chilukki last fall at Churchill, as well as the first two stakes for her division this season at Oaklawn.
Dixie Strike, meanwhile, is a millionaire, while Flashy American was third last out in the Grade 2 Falls City at Churchill. Sister Ginger is a stakes winner at Oaklawn and Magic Union invades from Southern California.[bc_video_id:318426:]
Close Hatches won 5 of 8 starts last year, including the Grade 1 Mother Goose and the Grade 1 Cotillion. In the Breeders’ Cup, she stalked the pace and rallied to finish 4 1/2 lengths behind champion Beholder.
“She ran very well,” said Bill Mott, who trains Close Hatches for Juddmonte Farms. “She just couldn’t outrun Beholder. That was the only problem. She was in a good position, had a good trip, and looked like she had a chance turning for home. The other filly just didn’t back up.”
Mott said Close Hatches, a daughter of First Defence, was freshened following the Breeders’ Cup.
“She had a little time off, just at Payson Park,” he said.
For her return, Close Hatches will break from the rail under Joel Rosario. In her final breeze for the Azeri she worked a bullet half-mile in 48.60 seconds at Payson Park on March 10. Close Hatches has more natural speed than most of her rivals, and she could be prominent from the beginning Saturday.
“She’s come from well back, and she’s been up on the pace,” said Mott.
On Fire Baby, a 5-year-old who last year won the Apple Blossom following a near-year layoff, will be making her first start since Oct. 6. She enters the Azeri off an uncharacteristic 11th to Mott trainee Emollient in the Grade 1 Spinster at Keeneland. She was sent to a Florida farm for evaluation, and trainer Gary Hartlage said she was found to have ulcers, which is a common ailment with racehorses. On Fire Baby resumed training in Florida, then shipped to Hartlage at Oaklawn in February.
“I think she’s ready,” Hartlage said. “I feel good with where I’m at.”
On Fire Baby, who wired the field in last year’s Apple Blossom, will break from post 7 under Joe Johnson.
“She’s won coming off of it, too,” said Hartlage.
Don’t Tell Sophia won the $100,000 Pippin and $100,000 Bayakoa in her two starts this year at Oaklawn. She is scheduled to wear a bar shoe on her right front hoof, according to the track’s overnight sheet. Channing Hill has the mount on the mare, who will break from post 4.
“She comes from off the pace,” said trainer Phil Sims. “She likes to make a three-eighths of a mile run.”
Trainer John Sadler noted that Magic Union, who has won optional claiming races at Del Mar and Churchill Downs, has experience at Oaklawn, having won over the track in 2013.