Phipps: Close Hatches holds on

ELMONT, N.Y. – Close Hatches narrowly held off an oncharging Princess of Sylmar in a thrilling 46th running of the Grade 1, $955,000 Ogden Phipps on the spectacular Belmont Stakes card Saturday at Belmont Park.

With Joel Rosario aboard, Close Hatches rated off the pace set by a couple of longshots before getting first run on both Beholder, the even-money favorite, and Princess of Sylmar, the 9-5 second choice who trailed to the top of the stretch.

As a terrific finish unfolded, and as the huge Belmont crowd roared its approval, Rosario was able to keep Close Hatches in front, as she held gamely to prevail by a head under vigorous handling. Antipathy, a 30-1 shot, was another neck back in third, while Beholder was another three-quarters of a length behind in fourth.

Close Hatches, owned by Juddmonte Farms and trained by Bill Mott, returned $7.80 as the third choice in a field of six. She finished the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:40.55 over a fast track.

Widely touted beforehand as a benchmark event in the filly-mare division – the three favorites were a combined 12 for 12 at the distance, a remarkable statistic – the race lived up to its billing.

“We’ve been pointing to this race since early spring,” Mott said. “It’s one of those cases where things work out, when you make a plan and it comes to fruition.”

“It’s always a treat to see truly great fillies take on each other like this,” said Juddmonte manager Garrett O’Rourke.

Longshot Classic Point sailed off to the lead down the backstretch in splits of 22.55 and 45.02 seconds while Rosario secured a comfortable spot for Close Hatches in third. Beholder also was poised in a good outside spot a couple more lengths back, while Princess of Sylmar took up her usual trailing position while striding along nicely.

Late in the far turn, and when getting six furlongs in 1:09.38, Close Hatches angled out to make the lead, straightened away, and turned back the upper-stretch bid by Beholder.

But then came Princess of Sylmar farthest outside. The top two hit the wire nearly together, with the final margin a short head.

“Perfect trip,” Rosario said. “I just wanted to get position and take my time. They stopped a little early, so I took the lead. I knew [Princess of Sylmar] was going to come, so I just wanted to have enough left.”

Close Hatches, a 4-year-old filly by First Defence, was bred in Kentucky by Millsec Ltd. She is now perfect in three starts this year and assumes the role of divisional leader, having swept the Grade 2 Azeri and Grade 1 Apple Blossom at the Oaklawn Park meet, both on the lead. She earned $535,000 to increase her career bankroll to $2,382,300 and move her overall record to a sparkling 8 wins and 2 seconds from 11 starts.

“It’s nice when they are that versatile,” Mott said. “Frankly, she looked just as good today when she had a target.”

“She’s been unbelievably good,” he added. “She’s reproduced her form from last year, maybe even gotten a little better. I really have had some really good fillies, and I think she fits right into that category.”

The Phipps is a Win and You’re In event for the Oct. 31 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita. Last fall, Beholder won the Distaff, and Close Hatches was second.

Close Hatches will be based at Belmont and Saratoga while continuing a campaign leading to the Distaff. Mott said the Phipps has been a focus for months, and “I haven’t even thought of anything beyond this, except for the Breeders’ Cup.”

Princess of Sylmar, said trainer Todd Pletcher, “certainly ran her tail off today, and it was just a tough beat.”

Beholder, a two-time champion, “was struggling,” said jockey Gary Stevens. “It’s Big Sandy, and it got dry out there. I don’t have any excuses. My hat’s off to the top two. People got what they wanted to see. We all came into the last eighth of a mile on equal terms. It was a fair trip for everybody, a good horse race. I’m disappointed we didn’t win, but I’m proud of her.”

The $2 exacta (1-6) paid $19.40, the $1 trifecta (1-6-2) returned $86, and the 10-cent superfecta (1-6-2-5) was worth $12.57.