He also pointed out that the Songbird would have to run against colts in the Santa Anita Derby in order to accrue the points needed to qualify for the Derby field.
After the race Rick Porter played down the speculation that the filly might run in the Kentucky Derby, saying that a run in the Kentucky Oaks would be the "smart move". Starting at odds of 1/20, she took the lead as usual, went ten lengths clear on the final turn and won easing down by six lengths from Land Over Sea. Songbird began her 2016 in the Grade II Las Virgenes Stakes over one mile at Santa Anita on February 6. Her rating was the highest given to a juvenile filly in eighteen years.
#Songbird horse free
In the Experimental Free Handicap (a ranking of the best American two-year-olds), published at the end of January, Songbird was assigned 125 pounds, one pound behind the colt Nyquist and five pounds clear of the next best fillies Catch A Glimpse (Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf) and Rachel's Valentina.
She just gives me that much confidence."Īt the Eclipse Award ceremony on January 16, 2016, Songbird was awarded the title of American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly having received 260 of the 261 votes. I almost felt like yawning as we went along. Smith, who was winning a record 22nd Breeders' Cup race, said "Once we jumped out the gate, it was just a matter of me staying on. The Ken McPeek-trained longshot Dothraki Queen stayed on to take third ahead of Nickname. Rachel's Valentina raced in second without ever threatening the favorite and Songbird extended her advantage in the straight to win by five and three-quarter lengths. Drawn on the extreme outside of the field, Songbird broke quickly and went straight into the lead. Her most serious opponents appeared to be Rachel's Valentina (winner of the Spinaway Stakes and the second foal of Rachel Alexandra), Tap To It (runner-up in the Spinaway), Land Over Sea and Nickname (Frizette Stakes), with the other five fillies starting at 26/1 or longer. Songbird ventured out of California for the first time when she was made 3/5 favorite for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland on October 31. She's so intelligent, she's so smart and listens to everything I tell her". After the race Smith praised the winner's attitude and temperament saying "Not only does she have the ability but she has the mind to go with it. Smith sent Songbird into the lead from the start and the favorite never looked in any danger of defeat, coming home four and a half lengths clear of Land Over Sea. Baffert's Jade Princess was the second choice while Land Over Sea appeared the best of the other six entrants. Three weeks after her win in the Debutante, Songbird went for another Grade I prize when she started odds-on favorite for the Chandelier Stakes over eight and a half furlongs at Santa Anita Park. She came right out of that gate today-so smooth."
I've been getting on her in the mornings and I'm impressed by just how well she does things. Mike Smith commented "For such a big mare, things just come so easy for her. She soon regained the advantage and went clear in the straight to win by five and a quarter lengths with Pretty N Cool holding on for second ahead of Land Over Sea. Songbird took an early lead but was headed by Pretty N Cool after three furlongs. Her main rival in the betting was the Bob Baffert-trained Pretty N Cool who had won the Grade II Sorrento Stakes on her previous start. On September 5 at the same track the filly was moved up sharply in class to contest the Grade I Del Mar Debutante Stakes and started the 11/10 favorite in a ten-runner field. She took an early lead and drew away in the last quarter mile to win by six and a half lengths in front of the favored Tiz A Tommy Town. Songbird began her racing career in a maiden race over six furlongs at Del Mar Racetrack on July 27. She was sent into training with the veteran Jerry Hollendorfer and was ridden throughout her two- and three-year-old seasons by jockey Mike Smith, who also rode the mare Zenyatta. In August 2014 the yearling filly was consigned to the Fasig-Tipton sale at Saratoga and was bought for $400,000 by Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farms. Owner Rick Porter named the filly in honor of the late singer Eva Cassidy. Ivanavinalot was descended from Flower Bed, the dam of the leading racehorse and broodmare Flower Bowl. Songbird's dam Ivanavinalot was a successful racemare whose six wins included the Grade II Bonnie Miss Stakes at Gulfstream Park in March 2003.
As a breeding stallion Medaglia d'Oro is best known as the sire of Rachel Alexandra. She was sired by Medaglia d'Oro, a top-class racehorse whose wins included the Travers Stakes, Whitney Handicap, and Donn Handicap. Songbird is a large bay filly bred in Kentucky by John Antonelli.
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