Songbird drills for Grade 1 Cotillion

The undefeated champion Songbird breezed five furlongs in 58.80 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday, a workout trainer Jerry Hollendorfer described as her most important exercise in the buildup to the $1 million Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing on Sept. 24.

Hollendorfer did not attend the workout. He was in Kentucky for the Keeneland September yearling sale and was in contact with stable staff in California through the morning.

“We had a nice workout,” Hollendorfer said. “That’s our major work before going to Philadelphia.

“She’s just breezing. We feel like she’s plenty ready.”

Hollendorfer’s assistant Dan Ward said he timed Songbird in 59.01 seconds for five furlongs and that the filly galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.60 and seven furlongs in 1:26.40. Exercise rider Edgar Rodriguez was aboard for the workout.

“We worked on a fresh track, and she went perfectly,” Ward said. “She changed leads right on cue.”

Songbird is scheduled to work a half-mile Sunday before being shipped to Philadelphia early next week. The Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes is run at 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-old fillies.

Songbird will be a heavy favorite to win her 11th race in the Cotillion. Owned by Rick Porter, Songbird was the champion 2-year-old filly of 2015 and has been a standout in the 3-year-old filly division this year.

Songbird won four races in 2015, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland. This year, she is unbeaten in six races. Songbird swept the two Grade 1 races for sophomore fillies at Saratoga this summer, the Coaching Club American Oaks on July 24 and the Alabama Stakes on Aug. 20.