Close Hatches (USA)
January 31, 2010 – Living
First Defence (USA) x Rising Tornado (USA), by Storm Cat (USA)
Family 8-f
January 31, 2010 – Living
First Defence (USA) x Rising Tornado (USA), by Storm Cat (USA)
Family 8-f
Close Hatches was the product of generations of careful breeding from some of the best bloodlines in the country. Her performance lived up to that background, and although she lost her best form in the latter part of her 4-year-old season, what she had done up to that point was enough to secure her an Eclipse Award. She has had some success as a broodmare.
Race record
14 starts, 9 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$2,707,300
2013:
2014:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion older female (2014)
Assessments
Rated at 115 pounds on the 2013 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, 15 pounds below co-highweights Black Caviar and Treve and 6 pounds below the top-rated filly or mare on dirt, Beholder.
Rated at 117 pounds on the 2014 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, 13 pounds below overall highweight Just a Way and 2 pounds below Untapable, the top filly or mare on dirt.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare with a long, smooth stride, Close Hatches did not start at 2. She could make or stalk the pace.
As a producer
As of June 29, 2024, Close Hatches has produced seven named foals of racing age, of which four have started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Close Hatches was bred by Millsec Ltd., a division of Juddmonte Farms. She raced for Juddmonte Farms and was trained by Bill Mott. She was ridden in all but one of her starts by Joel Rosario.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 2008 Forego Handicap (USA-G1) winner First Defence (by Unbridled’s Song), Close Hatches is inbred 5x4 to Northern Dancer and 5x5 to Mr. Prospector. She is a full sister to Grade 1-placed stakes winner Lockdown, dam of 2023 Delaware Handicap (USA-G2) winner Idiomatic (by Curlin).
Close Hatches is out of the winning Storm Cat mare Rising Tornado, whose half sister Bird Flown (by Oasis Dream) is the dam of multiple Group 1 winner Siskin. Also a half sister to Group 2-placed listed stakes winner Barsanti (by Champs Elysees), Rising Tornado is out of listed stakes-placed Silver Star (by Zafonic), a full sister to 1997 European champion 2-year-old male Xaar.
Silver Star is out of 1980 Ballyogan Stakes (IRE-G3) winner Monroe (by Sir Ivor), also the dam of Group 3 winners Masterclass (by The Minstrel) and Diese (by Diesis) and listed stakes winner Ile de Jinsky (by Ile de Bourbon); the second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Senure, Grade 2 winner Didina, Australian Group 2 winner Trick of Light, and Grade 3 winner Speak in Passing; and the third dam of 2022 Falmouth Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Prosperous Voyage, Australian Group 2 winners Domesday and Permit, and Australian Group 3 winner Cool Front. Monroe is out of 1982 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Best in Show (by Traffic Judge), also the dam of 1975 Irish champion 2-year-old male Malinowski (by Sir Ivor), 1982 Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) winner Blush With Pride (by Blushing Groom), and English Group 2 winner Gielgud.
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Close Hatches’ win in the 2014 Ogden Phipps Stakes can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYxGNylzVjQ.
Last updated: June 29, 2024
Race record
14 starts, 9 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$2,707,300
2013:
- Won Cotillion Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Parx Racing)
- Won Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Belmont)
- Won Gazelle Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Distaff (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Acorn Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
2014:
- Won Ogden Phipps Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Belmont)
- Won Apple Blossom Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Oaklawn Park)
- Won Personal Ensign Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Azeri Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Oaklawn Park)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion older female (2014)
Assessments
Rated at 115 pounds on the 2013 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, 15 pounds below co-highweights Black Caviar and Treve and 6 pounds below the top-rated filly or mare on dirt, Beholder.
Rated at 117 pounds on the 2014 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, 13 pounds below overall highweight Just a Way and 2 pounds below Untapable, the top filly or mare on dirt.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare with a long, smooth stride, Close Hatches did not start at 2. She could make or stalk the pace.
As a producer
As of June 29, 2024, Close Hatches has produced seven named foals of racing age, of which four have started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Tacitus (2016, by Tapit) won the 2019 Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G2) and Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (USA-G2) and the 2020 Suburban Handicap (USA-G2); he was also second in the 2019 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) and third in the 2019 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (USA-G1).
- Scylla (2020, by Tapit) won the 2024 Fleur de Lis Stakes (USA-G2) and Shawnee Stakes (USA-G3).
- Batten Down (2021, by Tapit) won the 2024 Ohio Derby (USA-G3).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Close Hatches was bred by Millsec Ltd., a division of Juddmonte Farms. She raced for Juddmonte Farms and was trained by Bill Mott. She was ridden in all but one of her starts by Joel Rosario.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 2008 Forego Handicap (USA-G1) winner First Defence (by Unbridled’s Song), Close Hatches is inbred 5x4 to Northern Dancer and 5x5 to Mr. Prospector. She is a full sister to Grade 1-placed stakes winner Lockdown, dam of 2023 Delaware Handicap (USA-G2) winner Idiomatic (by Curlin).
Close Hatches is out of the winning Storm Cat mare Rising Tornado, whose half sister Bird Flown (by Oasis Dream) is the dam of multiple Group 1 winner Siskin. Also a half sister to Group 2-placed listed stakes winner Barsanti (by Champs Elysees), Rising Tornado is out of listed stakes-placed Silver Star (by Zafonic), a full sister to 1997 European champion 2-year-old male Xaar.
Silver Star is out of 1980 Ballyogan Stakes (IRE-G3) winner Monroe (by Sir Ivor), also the dam of Group 3 winners Masterclass (by The Minstrel) and Diese (by Diesis) and listed stakes winner Ile de Jinsky (by Ile de Bourbon); the second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Senure, Grade 2 winner Didina, Australian Group 2 winner Trick of Light, and Grade 3 winner Speak in Passing; and the third dam of 2022 Falmouth Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Prosperous Voyage, Australian Group 2 winners Domesday and Permit, and Australian Group 3 winner Cool Front. Monroe is out of 1982 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Best in Show (by Traffic Judge), also the dam of 1975 Irish champion 2-year-old male Malinowski (by Sir Ivor), 1982 Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) winner Blush With Pride (by Blushing Groom), and English Group 2 winner Gielgud.
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Close Hatches’ win in the 2014 Ogden Phipps Stakes can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYxGNylzVjQ.
Last updated: June 29, 2024