Songbird cruises in work for Santa Anita Oaks

ARCADIA, Calif. – Songbird continues to impress, in her races and workouts. Tuesday morning at Santa Anita, the undefeated filly cruised a graceful six furlongs in her final major drill for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks on April 9.

“She went three-quarters like it was nothing, like she was walking around the shed row,” jockey Mike Smith said. “She would have gone around again.”

Songbird worked by herself soon after the 6:30 a.m. renovation, six furlongs in 1:12.80, with a final furlong in 12 seconds, according to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. She galloped out seven furlongs in 1:26.90 and a mile in 1:40.79.

“She’s very businesslike,” Hollendorfer said. “She’s very consistent in almost everything she does. She went easy early, finished up real good, and galloped out real good.”

Smith flashed two thumbs up to Hollendorfer while Songbird walked back to the stable after the work.

“She’s hitting the ground so good,” Smith said. “She’s grown, she’s stronger, and she is smarter about everything.”

She also has never lost. Songbird, owned by Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farms, will seek her seventh straight victory in the Santa Anita Oaks. She won four starts at 2, both starts at 3, and, according to Smith, has developed into a consummate professional.

“When she was younger, she’d get kind of hot, worked up, and a little bit aggressive,” he said. “Now, she just stands there, on her toes, watching everything. She’s much smarter about running, she knows the game now.

“As cool and calm as she is, in the afternoon she puts her game face on,” Smith said. “I like that, I don’t have to get after her . . . she just does it.”

After the workout, Hollendorfer said, “We’re all set. We’ll have a little half-mile work, probably on Monday, blow her out, and she’ll be ready.”

Despite the dominating presence of Songbird, at least four others are expected to enter the Santa Anita Oaks – Bellamentary, She’s a Warrior, Forever Darling, and Mokat. Three of those already lost to Songbird; the Oaks will be the first shot at Songbird for Bellamentary.

Bellamentary won a seven-furlong allowance March 18 in her first start of the season, and on Monday morning posted a sharp half-mile workout in 47.40. Bellamentary has won two of three starts for trainer Phil D’Amato.

“She’s the real deal,” D’Amato said. “But we’re going against the real-real deal.”

Richard Baltas plans to start two in the Oaks – Forever Darling, a Grade 2 sprint winner, and Mokat, a distant third last out to Songbird in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes.

She’s a Warrior, a maiden that finished third to Songbird in the Grade 2 Las Virgenes, also is being considered.