Recently-crowned champion and “TDN Rising Star” Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) picked up right where she left off last term with another absolutely stunning performance in Santa Anita's GII Las Virgenes S. Saturday. Taking up her preferred position at the head of affairs, the 1-9 chalk glided along through opening splits of :23.63 and :47.01 while maintaining a comfortable lead on the rest of the field. With Hall of Famer Mike Smith motionless in the irons, the bay had her ears pricked and was simply loping along as she turned for home well clear of her overmatched rivals. Songbird hit the line a wrapped-up 6 1/2 lengths clear of Land Over Sea (Bellamy Road) in what was the equivalent of a paid workout and earned 50 points towards the GI Kentucky Oaks May 6.
“It was nice to get that race out of the way,” winning conditioner Jerry Hollendorfer remarked. “No matter how good your horse is, you'll always be a little bit anxious.”
The Hall of Famer continued, “I was so pleased to see her way out there and cruising along pretty easy. At least now we got a race in her and we can try to make some more plans. We want to run here at Santa Anita. What we do between now and the [GI] Santa Anita Oaks [Apr. 9], I don't know. If we do anything. We'll think about it and try to do the right thing.”
“It's hard to explain the feeling,” winning owner Rick Porter added. “She just gives you goose bumps and you just wonder 'How did I get this horse?' I don't think I've ever had one that's so dominant and does things so easily. It would be nice to win the Kentucky Derby, but I'd like to do it with a nice colt. I don't like the[Derby] point system. We'd have to run in the [GI] Santa Anita Derby with her. I think it'd be great for your ego, but the smart move is to stay on the path we're on to the [Kentucky] Oaks.”
A perfect four-for-four last term, Songbird just seemed to get better and better with each trip to the post, winning three Grade Is and her debut by a combined 22 lengths. A dominant first-out winner sprinting at Del Mar July 26, the $400,000 FTSAUG purchase was equally impressive when winning the GI Del Mar Debutante next out Sept. 5. Passing her two-turn test with aplomb with another decisive score in Santa Anita's GI Chandelier S. Sept. 26, the Fox Hill Farms runner was simply sensational when easily defeating the East Coast's best in fellow “TDN Rising Star” Rachel's Valentina (Bernardini) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland Oct. 31.
Songbird's dam Ivanavinalot, winner of the 2003 GII Bonnie Miss S., produced a filly by Ghostzapper in 2015 and was bred back to Tapizar.
Saturday, Santa Anita
LAS VIRGENES S.-GII, $300,345, SA, 2-6, 3yo, f, 1m, 1:36.84, ft.
1–SONGBIRD, 123, f, 3, by Medaglia d'Oro
1st Dam: Ivanavinalot (GSW, $647,300), by West Acre
2nd Dam: Beaty Sark, by Deputy Minister
3rd Dam: Torsion Belle, by Torsion
“TDN Rising Star” ($400,000 Ylg '14 FTSAUG). O-Fox Hill
Farms Inc.; B-John Antonelli (KY); T-Jerry Hollendorfer; J-Mike
E. Smith. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 5-5-0-0, $1,682,000.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
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2–Land Over Sea, 118, f, 3, Bellamy Road–Belle Watling, by
Pulpit. ($42,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP; $130,000 2yo '15 OBSAPR).
O-Reddam Racing LLC; B-Jack Swain (KY); T-Doug F. O'Neill.
$60,000.
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3–She's a Warrior, 118, f, 3, Majestic Warrior–Blabby B., by
Tabasco Cat. ($85,000 Wlg '13 KEENOV; $85,000 RNA Ylg '14
KEESEP; $160,000 2yo '15 OBSMAR). O-C R K Stable; B-T. C.
Flounders (KY); T-Peter Eurton. $36,000.
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Margins: 6HF, 3 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.05, 23.80, 24.30.
Also Ran: Merirosvo, Jade Princess, Street Fancy. Scratched: Decked Out. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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