Close Hatches rolls to victory in Azeri Stakes

Hot Springs, AR (SportsNetwork.com) – Post time favorite Close Hatches set the pace and rolled to victory in Saturday’s $200,000 Azeri Stakes for fillies and mares at Oaklawn Park.

Seven females left the starting gate in the 1 1/16-mile stakes with Close Hatches, ridden by Joel Rosario, sent off as the 3-5 favorite. Don’t Tell Sophia, second in last year’s Azeri, was 3-1 and On Fire Baby was the 9-2 third pick.

On Fire Baby was first out of the gate, but Close Hatches moved to the lead and took the field up the backstretch. Magic Union, at 32-1, was second with On Fire Baby in third as Don’t Tell Sophia trailed the leaders.

Close Hatches, trained by Bill Mott, continued on the lead around the final turn and into the stretch. Don’t Tell Sophia moved from the outside to join the leaders.

Close Hatches rebuffed the challenge from Magic Union and Don’t Tell Sophia to post a 1 1/4-length win. Magic Union was second with Don’t Tell Sophia third and On Fire Baby holding on for fourth. Dixie Strike, Flashy American and Sister Ginger completed the order of finish.

The time for the Azeri was 1:44.34. The track was listed as ‘wet fast.’

Owned by Juddmonte Farms, Close Hatches was making her 2014 debut. The win was worth $120,000 to bring the 4-year-old filly’s career bankroll to $1,487,300.

Close Hatches, winner of six of nine career starts, was second in last November’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff behind Beholder. She recorded wins in the Cotillion, Gazelle and Mother Goose Stakes and was second in the Acorn and seventh behind Princess of Sylmar in the Kentucky Oaks.

Close Hatches paid $3.20, $3.00 and $2.40. Magic Union returned $18.40 and $6.20, and Don’t Tell Sophia paid $2.60 to show.

Categorized in: Horses