Unbeaten champion and 'TDN Rising Star' Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) will be forced to miss the May 6 GI Kentucky Oaks due to a minor illness, owner Rick Porter announced Sunday evening.
“Unfortunately we have to report that Songbird will miss the Kentucky Oaks,” Porter said in a statement via his Fox Hill Farms' Facebook page. “She developed a low grade fever after the [Apr. 9 GI] Santa Anita Oaks and has not been able to go out to the track. With the fever not resolved, she was started on a course of antibiotics [Sunday], and as a result it'll be another seven to 10 days before she's able to return to the track. We are sorry to have to miss the Oaks, but what's most important is to get Songbird well, and we have two great vets along with [Hall of Fame trainer] Jerry [Hollendorfer] and his team taking good care of her.”
Last year's dominant GI Del Mar Debutante, GI Chandelier S. and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine picked up right where she left off this season with facile victories in the Feb. 6 GII Las Virgenes S., Mar. 5 GIII Santa Ysabel S. and Apr. 9 Oaks. The $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling, who has earned $1,982,000 to date, was expected to be a very short-priced favorite at Churchill Downs. Her absence from the Oaks may sway connections who were on the fence to enter their charges for the first Friday in May.
When contacted for more information Monday afternoon, Porter said he was waiting for an update from Dr. Nathan Slovis, who is based at Hagyard Equine Medical Center in Lexington and is overseeing Songbird's treatment in collaboration with her veterinarian in California.
“They're 99% sure it's a virus–a lot of her symptoms have subsided,” the prominent owner said. “The bottom line is that Jerry and I decided we don't want to take any chances–I think that would be the most foolish thing we could do. We just have to look to the future and hope she comes out of this well… The overall long-term outlook is fine. Unfortunately, it's just a little setback.”
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