NEW YORK (AP) — Close Hatches beat 1-5 favorite Dream of Julia by 714 lengths on Saturday to win the $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park.
Close Hatches took charge on the final turn and was alone in the run to the wire. It was the biggest win of her career, and the fourth in six starts.
Joel Rosario was aboard for trainer Bill Mott for the 1 1-16 miles run in 1:41.36 on the fast track.
Dreaming of Julia was trying to rebound from a trouble-filled trip in the Kentucky Oaks in which she ran fourth as the 3-2 favorite. There were no apparent excuses in the Mother Goose. Sluggish most of the race, Dreaming of Julia made a belated run to get second.
Close Hatches paid $10.60, $2.60 and $2.10. Dreaming of Julia returned $2.10 and $2.10. Marathon Lady paid $2.20 to show.
