Songbird has final work for Ogden Phipps
ARCADIA, Calif. – Songbird rolled through a sharp half-mile workout Tuesday morning at Santa Anita, a day before she ships to Belmont Park for the first start of her 4-year-old campaign on Saturday in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps.
Working by herself at 6:45 a.m., Songbird, with jockey Mike Smith, broke off at the half-mile, went back-to-back quarter-miles in 23.20, and was given an official work time of 46.40. She galloped out five furlongs in 58.80, according to Santa Anita clockers.
Songbird’s serious workouts took place in May; trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said the half-mile workout Tuesday was “just to give her a blowout before the race.”
Songbird will ship early Wednesday morning to Belmont Park, where she is expected to start favored in a small field in the $750,000 Ogden Phipps.
Smith, who has been Songbird’s regular workout rider recently, believes the 4-year-old filly has matured since her 3-year-old campaign. “She’s quieter, much more calm,” Smith said. “She knows the different between ‘go’ and ‘whoa.’”
The 1 1/16-mile Phipps will be Songbird’s first start since a nose defeat to Beholder in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 4. Owned by Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farms, Songbird has won 11 races and $3,712,000 from 12 starts.
