Songbird cruises through breeze

ARCADIA, Calif. – It was only a half-mile breeze, and as is custom for Songbird, it was effortless.

“Nice and smooth, nice and easy,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.

Songbird does everything easily.

The undefeated filly worked by herself at 6:45 a.m. Thursday at Santa Anita, cruising to the wire in 46.80 seconds under exercise rider Edgar Rodriguez while Hollendorfer and jockey Mike Smith watched from the grandstand.

Over the next four weeks leading up to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Songbird will pick up the tempo. But the Thursday work was her first since winning the Grade 1 Cotillion on Sept. 24 at Parx, and Hollendorfer was not looking for much.

“Just a maintenance work, getting her back in action,” Hollendorfer said. “She’s got plenty of foundation in her, so we’ll just keep her maintained until the Breeders’ Cup.”

[bc_video_id:395269:]Hollendorfer caught Songbird galloping out five furlongs in 59.90, six furlongs in 1:12.70, and one mile in 1:41.

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Smith has turned workout duties over to Rodriguez because Songbird feels the difference between an exercise rider and a race rider. When Smith worked her, the filly thought it was time to race and would work too fast.

“If I get on her, 47 would have been 46 flat with me not doing anything,” Smith said. “[Rodriguez] gets on her every day.”

Songbird, 11 for 11, is the early favorite over Beholder and Stellar Wind for the BC Distaff here on Nov. 4. Other probable contenders include Cavorting, Curalina, Forever Unbridled, I’m a Chatterbox, and Corona Del Inca.

Hollendorfer said Tara’s Tango would aim for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint, pending confirmation from Stonestreet Stables owner Barbara Banke.

Also on Saturday, Arrogate and Masochistic worked in preparation for Breeders’ Cup races on Nov. 5.
Arrogate, who won the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 27, worked five furlongs in 1:00.80. Trained by Bob Baffert, Arrogate will start in the $6 million BC Classic at 1 1/4 miles.

Masochistic worked six furlongs in 1:12.60 and is a leading contender for the $1.5 million BC Sprint at six furlongs. Trained by Ron Ellis, Masochistic won the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 27. Santa Anita clockers timed Masochistic running the first half-mile in 48.20 seconds, and galloping out seven furlongs in 1:26.20.

- additional reporting by Steve Andersen