Close Hatches wins the 2014 Personal Ensign Stakes
Close Hatches wins the 2014 Personal Ensign Stakes
August 22, 2014
Travers weekend at Saratoga opened on Friday with the $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) for fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on the main track. 24,088 fans came out despite intermittent showers and unusually cool temperatures in the mid 60's, with the track downgraded to muddy. A field of 7 went to post looking for automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup Distaff under the "Win and You're In" promotion, with Close Hatches sent off as the 9-5 favorite off her 3 race winning streak including the Azeri (G2), Apple Blossom (G1), and Ogden Phipps (G1).
In to challenge her included 2-1 second choice Princess of Sylmar, second in both the Ogden Phipps and the Delaware Handicap (G1), and 3-1 third choice Antipathy, winner of the Shuvee Handicap (G3).
Jockey Joel Rosario sent Close Hatches to the front first time by and she set fractions of 23.05, 46.61, and 1:11.12 over the muddy sealed track while as many as 2 1/2 lengths in front of Antipathy stalking her in second. Entering the lane, Close Hatches opened up a 6 1/2 length lead with 15-1 Fiftyshadesofhay giving chase. Rosario eased up on Close Hatches inside the 1/16 pole as the favorite cruised past the post 5 lengths ahead of Fiftyshadesofhay in 1:50.62. It was another 3 3/4 lengths back to late-running 8-1 fourth choice Stanwyck third.
Results chart
Close Hatches in the winner's circle
Winning trainer Bill Mott said, "My instructions to Joel were to be wherever he was comfortable. We didn't know who might try to go to the lead. We thought Antipathy or Majestic River might try to go to the lead. He gave them the opportunity going into the first turn. We were laying second going into first turn, but (Close Hatches) was full of run. (Irad Ortiz) kind of snugged (Antipathy) up, it looked like, and took a little bit of a hold of her, and we inherited the lead.
She's already a Grade 1 winner, and she just carried on that tradition today. Our plan right now, and has been since Keeneland went back to dirt, was to go to the Spinster."
Close Hatches heads out to the track
Winning jockey Joel Rosario said, "I did not expect it to be wire-to-wire. It looked like another horse was going to go to the lead. It looked like Irad took a little hold of Antipathy and I just took my position. Turning for home, I expected Princess of Sylmar to show up, but she didn't. My horse looked good out there; she was doing it nice and easy and it was a good race for her. She's a nice filly with a long stride.
I'm not surprised she went that fast."
15-1 shot Fiftyshadesofhay was bumped at the start, settled in 4th under jockey John Velazquez, then passed tired horses to get second beaten 5 lengths. The Bob Baffert trainee improved her record to 5 wins, 5 seconds, and 4 thirds in 19 starts, earning $1,085,951 for owners Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, and Paul Weitman.
8-1 fourth choice Stanwyck was unhurried in 6th under jockey Rajiv Maragh, then rallied late to get third beaten 8 3/4 lengths. The John Shirreffs trainee improved her record to 3 wins, 3 seconds, and 7 thirds in 16 starts, earning $454,250 for owners Jerry and Ann Moss.
August 22, 2014
Travers weekend at Saratoga opened on Friday with the $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) for fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on the main track. 24,088 fans came out despite intermittent showers and unusually cool temperatures in the mid 60's, with the track downgraded to muddy. A field of 7 went to post looking for automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup Distaff under the "Win and You're In" promotion, with Close Hatches sent off as the 9-5 favorite off her 3 race winning streak including the Azeri (G2), Apple Blossom (G1), and Ogden Phipps (G1).
In to challenge her included 2-1 second choice Princess of Sylmar, second in both the Ogden Phipps and the Delaware Handicap (G1), and 3-1 third choice Antipathy, winner of the Shuvee Handicap (G3).
Jockey Joel Rosario sent Close Hatches to the front first time by and she set fractions of 23.05, 46.61, and 1:11.12 over the muddy sealed track while as many as 2 1/2 lengths in front of Antipathy stalking her in second. Entering the lane, Close Hatches opened up a 6 1/2 length lead with 15-1 Fiftyshadesofhay giving chase. Rosario eased up on Close Hatches inside the 1/16 pole as the favorite cruised past the post 5 lengths ahead of Fiftyshadesofhay in 1:50.62. It was another 3 3/4 lengths back to late-running 8-1 fourth choice Stanwyck third.
Results chart
Close Hatches in the winner's circle
Winning trainer Bill Mott said, "My instructions to Joel were to be wherever he was comfortable. We didn't know who might try to go to the lead. We thought Antipathy or Majestic River might try to go to the lead. He gave them the opportunity going into the first turn. We were laying second going into first turn, but (Close Hatches) was full of run. (Irad Ortiz) kind of snugged (Antipathy) up, it looked like, and took a little bit of a hold of her, and we inherited the lead.
She's already a Grade 1 winner, and she just carried on that tradition today. Our plan right now, and has been since Keeneland went back to dirt, was to go to the Spinster."
Close Hatches heads out to the track
Winning jockey Joel Rosario said, "I did not expect it to be wire-to-wire. It looked like another horse was going to go to the lead. It looked like Irad took a little hold of Antipathy and I just took my position. Turning for home, I expected Princess of Sylmar to show up, but she didn't. My horse looked good out there; she was doing it nice and easy and it was a good race for her. She's a nice filly with a long stride.
I'm not surprised she went that fast."
15-1 shot Fiftyshadesofhay was bumped at the start, settled in 4th under jockey John Velazquez, then passed tired horses to get second beaten 5 lengths. The Bob Baffert trainee improved her record to 5 wins, 5 seconds, and 4 thirds in 19 starts, earning $1,085,951 for owners Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, and Paul Weitman.
8-1 fourth choice Stanwyck was unhurried in 6th under jockey Rajiv Maragh, then rallied late to get third beaten 8 3/4 lengths. The John Shirreffs trainee improved her record to 3 wins, 3 seconds, and 7 thirds in 16 starts, earning $454,250 for owners Jerry and Ann Moss.
