'Spinsters' Don't Tell Sophia, Close Hatches Exited Well

In 2010, a year after winning his first Grade 1 race with Hot Cha Cha in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, trainer Phil Sims confided that he had another good one in the barn just getting ready to start her career.

“I just had a gut instinct about her,” Sims said of the-then 2-year-old Don’t Tell Sophia, who would finish second in her racing debut here that fall.

That gut instinct proved to be correct. On Sunday, Don’t Tell Sophia delivered the performance of her career in winning the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) by 2 1/2 lengths. In the process, she avenged a loss from seven months ago to Close Hatches in the Azeri (G2) at Oaklawn Park.

“Usually when they get to six years old, they are in the twilight of their career,” Sims said. “But with her pedigree (by Congaree), we have not rushed her and let her come into her own.”

A graduate of the 2009 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Don’t Tell Sophia did not win her first stakes until she turned five in January 2013 and since then has added six more stakes victories and boosted her bankroll to $979,295.

Sunday’s victory earned Don’t Tell Sophia a berth in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) to be run Oct. 31 at Santa Anita.

“I have never been to Santa Anita,” said Sims, who owns Don’t Tell Sophia in partnership with Jerry Namy. “It will be nice; be something special.”

Joe Rocco Jr., who has ridden Don’t Tell Sophia to three victories and a second in four mounts, will have the riding assignment at Santa Anita. Rocco has had one previous Breeders’ Cup mount, finishing ninth on Ms Vanenzza in the 2009 Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita.

Sims said Don’t Tell Sophia would “probably have two maintenance works” here before shipping to California the week of the Breeders’ Cup.

CLOSE HATCHES OK MORNING AFTER JUDDMONTE SPINSTER

Appearing in the infield Winner’s Circle after yesterday’s Juddmonte Spinster (G1) had to be a bittersweet experience for Garrett O’Rourke of Juddmonte Farms. Representing the sponsor of the race, O’Rourke presented the trophy to the connections of Don’t Tell Sophia, who scored a 2 1/2-length victory in the race while Juddmonte’s Close Hatches ran fourth as the 1-5 favorite in her first loss of 2014.

O’Rourke was gracious Monday morning when asked about the race.

“Phil Sims is a good guy,” he said about Don’t Tell Sophia’s trainer and co-owner. “If we were going to get beat, I’m happy it was by him.”

Close Hatches, a 4-year-old daughter of First Defence, was fine the morning after the race, said Rodolphe Brisset, assistant to trainer Bill Mott. On Tuesday morning, the filly is scheduled to return to Mott’s base at Belmont Park with a decision on her future to be made.

“We’ll have to wait a week or two and see how she’s doing,” O’Rourke said. “She owes us nothing for the year we’ve had with her. It would be nice to get to the Breeders’ Cup and give her a shot at the championship.”

Also returning to New York tomorrow are two Juddmonte runners from Saturday: Filimbi, third in the First Lady (G1), and Seek Again, sixth in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1).