Scary thought: Songbird might be even better for Alabama

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – As good as Songbird was in repelling three-time graded stakes winner Carina Mia and drawing clear to win Sunday’s Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks by 5 1/4 lengths at Saratoga, her connections think the effort may serve to make her better.

“A lot of times, a true champion, this will move them up because it’s the first time somebody got inside her gut,” winning rider Mike Smith said after the race. “If that happens, oh my.”

Songbird remained unbeaten in nine starts with her victory Sunday. The purse of the Coaching Club American Oaks was $500,000, upped from $300,000 only because Songbird started. She ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.56 and earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure, her first triple-digit mark.

While trainer Jerry Hollendorfer flew back to Southern California early Monday, Songbird remained at Saratoga, where “she will enjoy a few spa days” before preparing for the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama here on Aug. 20, according to assistant Christina Jelm.

Jelm, after driving Hollendorfer to Albany International Airport on Monday, said that Songbird “came out of it like you’d expect any champion to.”

“She’s probably better than she went into it,” Jelm said.

Songbird arrived at Saratoga last Wednesday night and trained for just three days over Saratoga’s main track before the Coaching Club. She’ll have 27 days before the Alabama, plenty of time to acclimate further to the track and her surroundings.

“I think it’s really going to benefit her to be able to gallop here on this track and be able to breeze a little bit,” Jelm said. “The people that have run here for years are saying it’s just amazing what she did to be able to go to the lead, get headed, and then still draw off not training here, not breezing here. She just accomplished a great feat. She’s a great filly.”

Songbird set the pace in the Coaching Club before being confronted by Carina Mia, under Julien Leparoux, approaching the top of the stretch. Carina Mia was right at Songbird’s throatlatch before Smith went to his left-handed whip and Songbird edged away.

“Mike and I thought Julien would try to press the pace a little bit and come after us,” Hollendorfer said. “Mike was ready for it. Fortunately, we had a good-enough horse to hold her off. I thought both fillies ran brilliantly.”

Jelm said Songbird would walk for two to four days before going back to the track. Hollendorfer on Sunday said that Songbird would likely have her first work back sometime next week.

Trainer Bill Mott said that Carina Mia came out of the Coaching Club in good order. Mott said he would talk with owner Goncalo Borges Torrealba, chairman of Three Chimneys Farm, about shortening Carina Mia up in distance and perhaps pointing to the Grade 1 Ballerina for fillies and mares here Aug. 27.

“I would like the Ballerina, but I have to convince Mr. T,” Mott said.

Torrealba, who was at Saratoga on Monday, said, “It’s all up to Bill.”

It remains to be seen who would run against Songbird in the Alabama, run at 1 1/4 miles. Weep No More, the Grade 1 Ashland winner who finished last in the Coaching Club, will point to the Alabama, trainer Rusty Arnold said Monday. Arnold said Weep No More was physically fine, other than being tired.

Dark Nile, a winner of four consecutive races, including the Delaware Oaks, is possible for the Alabama, according to Elliott Walden, president and chief executive of WinStar Farm, which owns the filly.