Close Hatches looking to stay on top in Personal Ensign

Having risen to the top of the older female division this season, Close

Hatches will attempt to maintain her position on Friday in the Grade 1, $500,000

Personal Ensign at

Saratoga over 1 1/8 miles.

In the shadow of Beholder and Princess of Sylmar in 2013, Close Hatches has

started her four-year-old campaign with three straight wins, including a narrow

score in the $1 million Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park on June 7. In that 1

1/16-mile heat, which pitted last year's leading three-year-old fillies in their

first rematch since the Breeders' Cup Distaff, Close Hatches prevailed by a neck

over Princess of Sylmar, with Beholder only a length behind in fourth.

It's been 2 1/2 months since the Ogden Phipps, a victory that followed

wire-to-wire scores in the Apple Blossom Handicap and Azeri, both at Oaklawn

Park. However, trainer Bill Mott is not concerned about the layoff.

Belle Gallantey took advantage of a paceless affair at Delaware Park, but

probably yields early control of the Personal Ensign to Antipathy, who was a

surprise third in the Ogden Phipps, a neck behind Close Hatches at 30-1. The

late-blooming A.P. Indy filly followed up that stakes debut with a two-length

score in the Shuvee Handicap, contested over a muddy Saratoga strip on July 27.

"We need some racing luck and for her to run her 'A' race (to win the

Personal Ensign)," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. "It's a tough group, but

we're happy to be in there, and we'll see how it goes. Hopefully, we'll have a

good day. I think she (belongs among the best in the division). She missed by

only a half-length in the Phipps and came back and won."

Stanwyck was runner-up in the Shuvee and also placed in the Apple Blossom,

Santa Margarita and Santa Maria earlier this year. The well-built daughter of

Empire Maker earned her signature win last October in the Turnback the Alarm

Handicap at Belmont, but has seen her bids flatten out in the final furlong of

recent starts.