Mandy Pope went to 9.5 million to acquire the services of two-time Eclipse Award winner Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro–Ivanavinalot, by West Acre), one of the prized offerings at Monday's Fasig-Tipton November Sale. A $400,000 graduate of this auction house's 2014 Saratoga Yearling Sale, Songbird was campaigned by Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farm and won her four juvenile starts by a combined 22 lengths, capped by the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Though she was forced to pass the 2016 GI Kentucky Oaks owing to minor illness, Songbird ran her winning streak to 11 with victories in the GI CCA Oaks, GI Alabama S. and GI Cotillion S. before dropping a nose decision to Beholder (Henny Hughes) in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, but had done enough to secure a second Eclipse. Kept in training this year at four, she won the GI Ogden Phipps S. and the GI Delaware H. before missing by a neck to future GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Forever Unbridled (Unbridled's Song) in the GI Personal Ensign S. in August. Porter transparently announced that Songbird was to be retired earlier this summer with 13 wins from 15 runs and earnings of $4,692,000. Mandy Pope also purchased Horse of the Year Havre de Grace (Saint Liam) from Porter, going to $10 million at this sale in 2012. Songbird was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, as hip 120.
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