Five Take On Close Hatches in $500,000 Spinster Stakes

Close Hatches, a perfect four for four this year, has been installed as the overhwhelming morning line favorite at odds of 3-5. Trained by Bill Mott, the four-year-old daughter of First Defence is owned by Juddmonte Farms, the powerhouse breeding and racing operation who sponsors this race. Joel Rosario, her regular rider, will be aboard as she goes for her fifth consecutive graded stakes victory. She has had three bullet workouts since her last race, a five-length romp in the Personal Ensign (G1).

Don't Tell Sophia training sharply on Keeneland dirt

Second choice at 9-2 on the morning line is Don’t Tell Sophia for trainer Philip Sims. A six-year-old daughter of Congaree, she has won three of her four starts this year and was last seen winning the Locust Grove, an ungraded stakes, at Churchill Downs. A triple threat, she has won on turf, dirt and synthetics over the course of her career and has ten wins to her credit. Joe Rocco, Jr. will be in the irons and she has had a bullet workout over the newly-installed Keeneland dirt track since her last race.

Globe-trotting Shuruq to make North American debut 

Also in the field is the world-traveler Shuruq who will be making her stateside debut at morning line odds of 5-1. Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, Julian Leparoux will be aboard carrying the royal blue colors of Godolphin Racing. She was last seen winning the International  Istanbul Trophy (G3) and has won five of her fourteen starts. All of her wins have come on turf or synthetics and she will be trying conventional dirt for the first time from post position four.