Songbird cleared to resume training

ARCADIA, Calif. – Songbird has been given the green light to resume serious training at Santa Anita, where the two-time champion filly is stabled with Jerry Hollendorfer.

Fox Hill Farms owner Rick Porter announced this week on Facebook that Songbird resumed galloping; she galloped 1 1/2 miles Wednesday and Thursday.

According to Porter’s post, Songbird’s training was delayed due to a “recent incident that we think occurred by kicking her stall wall.” Porter added that Songbird “had some bone bruising at the end of her last campaign … there was a little area in the bone that was being stubborn to heal. That is fully healed, as has the slight inflammation from kicking the wall, so now it’s full steam ahead.”

Songbird, whose 12 starts produced 11 wins, $3.71 million in earnings, and two championships, is likely to have her first breeze early next month. Assistant trainer Dan Ward said Thursday, “Within a couple weeks, she will work, hopefully, and be on her way.”

The champion 2-year-old filly in 2015 and champion 3-year-old filly in 2016, Songbird has not started since a nose defeat to Beholder in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Neither Hollendorfer nor Porter specified a comeback target for Songbird, although the renamed Grade 1 Beholder Mile (previously known as the Vanity) on June 3 would be an option.