Alabama victory toughens Songbird for challenges that lay ahead

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - After convincingly winning the two Grade 1 route races for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga, Songbird arrived back in Southern California early Monday morning with her unbeaten record intact and with a hardened core for the more difficult challenges that lay ahead.

Songbird came out of her seven-length victory in Saturday’s Alabama “beautifully,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Sunday afternoon.

Hollendorfer stopped in to watch Songbird jog on the road shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday before heading to the airport to catch a flight back to Southern California.

Songbird left Saratoga around midnight for a 1:30 a.m. flight Monday that got her to California around 6:30 a.m. local time. She was back at Del Mar by mid-morning.

Based on previous discussions with owner Rick Porter, Hollendorfer said the goal is to return to the East Coast for the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 24. But Hollendorfer said Sunday “it isn’t written in stone we will run in the Cotillion, but that is a race Mr. Porter has said 10 times he would like to run in.”

Hollendorfer is referring to Rick Porter, who owns Songbird and is from the Delaware Valley. Porter did not make the trip to Saratoga for the Alabama because he has been hospitalized since last Thursday.

Should Songbird run in the Cotillion, she will likely face Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia, who will prep for the Cotillion in the Princess of Sylmar Stakes on Sept. 3. Beyond the Cotillion, Songbird will be pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita on Nov. 4, where she could meet the multiple Eclipse Award winner Beholder.

“The rules of horse racing say you’re supposed to stay in the easiest company you can find,” Hollendorfer said Sunday. “As time goes on the races that come up you’re going to have to face tougher horses. I guess that’s the way it should be.”

While Songbird’s final margin of victory in both the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama was a combined 12 1/4 lengths, neither was achieved without a tussle.

In the Coaching Club American Oaks, Songbird faced a quarter-pole challenge from the Grade 1 winner Carina Mia, shrugged that off, and galloped home a 5 1/4-length winner. In Saturday’s Alabama, Songbird dueled with the multiple graded stakes winner Go Maggie Go through six furlongs in 1:11.13, put that rival away, and came home a seven-length winner. Songbird earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure for her Alabama victory.

Asked if he felt those two races toughened Songbird up for the challenges that lay ahead, Hollendorfer said, “I certainly do.”

Songbird, a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, is now 10 for 10 in her career with six Grade 1 victories and earnings of $2.76 million.

“I’m grateful to have a filly of this ability, that’s all I reflect on,” Hollendorfer said. “She’s come through every time.”