Songbird earns rare 'breezing' comment for latest workout

ARCADIA, Calif. - Songbird, the undefeated champion 2-year-old filly of 2015, breezed a half-mile in 48.40 seconds at Santa Anita on Sunday, eight days after winning her 3-year-old debut in the Grade 2 Las Virgenes Stakes.

Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Songbird worked alone. Hollendorfer had planned to work Songbird on Monday, but opted to move the exercise forward by 24 hours.

Santa Anita clockers rated the workout as breezing, a designation that reflects she was well within herself. A majority of workouts in Southern California are rated as handily, a designation that the horse is under more urging.

Hollendorfer emphasized on Sunday that Songbird’s main goal is the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles on April 9, a prep for the $1 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 6.

“That’s the point race,” Hollendorfer said of the Santa Anita Oaks.

Owned by Rick Porter, Songbird is unbeaten in five races, winning by a combined 28 1/2 lengths. She won the Las Virgenes Stakes at a mile on Feb. 6 by 6 1/2 lengths without urging from jockey Mike Smith.

There was one other notable workout by a 3-year-old on Sunday. Danzing Candy, the easy winner of an optional claimer at a mile on Feb. 4, worked a half-mile in 49.40 seconds.

Trained by Clifford Sise, Danzing Candy in unbeaten in two starts at this meeting, including a maiden race on Dec. 26. Danzing Candy is expected to run in the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 12.