Songbird likely to face four in Personal Ensign

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Two-time Eclipse Award champion Songbird on Tuesday was scheduled to arrive at Saratoga, where on Saturday she is expected to face four rivals in the Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign Stakes on the Travers card.

On Sunday at Del Mar, Songbird completed her preparations for the Personal Ensign by working four furlongs in 47.20 seconds.

“She just does everything nice and easy,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. “She galloped out well, looked real good.”

Songbird is returning to the track where last summer she won the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks and Grade 1 Alabama in dominant fashion, elevating her stardom.

“We did well there last year,” Hollendorfer said. “Saratoga is never an easy spot to get to, but we’re looking forward to try and win another race there.”

Among her four opponents is expected to be Forever Unbridled, winner of the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Handicap on June 17 in her lone start this year. Forever Unbridled finished 1 1/4 lengths behind Songbird last year when the two were second and third behind Beholder in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

“It’s going to be a great race,” said Dallas Stewart, trainer of Forever Unbridled. “Only one horse in the world that has ever beat Songbird. Our filly’s done well, she’s been healthy, and she’s good, too.”

Expected to round out the Personal Ensign field are Eskenformoney, Flora Dora, and Going for Broke, who scratched out of last Sunday’s Summer Colony Stakes.