Oaklawn Park: Close Hatches returns in top form to take Azeri

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Close Hatches showed her class in her 4-year-old debut at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, when she fought for a 1 1/2-length win over Magic Union in the Grade 2, $200,000 Azeri. It was another half-length back in third to Don’t Tell Sophia.

Attendance ontrack was a season-high 30,873.

Close Hatches ($3.20) was making her first start finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita on Nov. 1. She moved to the lead soon after the start of the 1 1/16-mile race, and proceeded to take the field through an opening quarter in 23.39 seconds, the first half-mile in 47.73, and six furlongs in 1:12.20.

“I took the lead and kind of slowed it down a little bit so I could have a little horse turning for home,” said Joel Rosario, who rode Close Hatches for trainer Bill Mott.

In the stretch, Close Hatches had a fight on her hands when Don’t Tell Sophia made her bid and Magic Union advanced, both closing the gap on the leader. But in the later stages, Close Hatches had more, and went on to cover the distance on a sealed track rated wet-fast in 1:44.34.

‘She picked it up again,” said Rosario. “She’s a pretty nice filly.”

Close Hatches, who was an Eclipse Award finalist for champion 3-year-old filly of 2013, earned $120,000 for the win, her sixth from nine career starts. She is a daughter of the Unbridled’s Song son First Defence and races for Juddmonte Farms.

Mott said earlier this week if Close Hatches handled the track at Oaklawn she would be a candidate to return to Arkansas for the Grade 1, $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 11.

Close Hatches was not the lone Grade 1 winner in the field making her first start of the year. On Fire Baby was fourth in her 5-year-old debut. Trainer Gary Hartlage said he was pleased with the effort from On Fire Baby, who was making her first out since October. On Fire Baby was prominent for much of the Azeri.

The remaining order of finish was Dixie Strike in fifth, followed by Flashy American and Sister Ginger.

Rain hit Oaklawn on and off Saturday, but the weather cleared for the running of the Azeri.