Songbird looks good prepping for Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

ARCADIA, Calif. - Songbird will be one of the shortest prices of the day on Oct. 31 when she starts in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland.

Judging from her recent workouts, and the thoughts of trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, Songbird should prove tough to beat in the championship race for 2-year-old fillies. Hollendorfer is far from a boastful trainer. A simple statement regarding Songbird, such as “We like the way she’s coming into the Juvenile Fillies,” may seem bland when spoken by some trainers, but not from Hollendorfer. It’s an endorsement.

Sunday at Santa Anita, Songbird worked six furlongs in 1:13.60 under jockey Mike Smith, who rode the filly to wins in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs on Sept. 5 and the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Sept. 26. Those wins have vaulted Songbird to the fore of the nation’s 2-year-old filly division in advance of the Breeders’ Cup. She races for Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farms.

Songbird, by Medgalia d’Oro, worked alone minutes before dawn.

“We wanted to put some air in her, and make sure she maintains fitness,” Hollendorfer said.

The BC Juvenile Fillies will be the toughest test of Songbird’s career. She has won three starts by a combined 16 1/4 lengths, without a threat from a rival in the stretch. In the Chandelier Stakes, Songbird led throughout and won by 4 1/2 lengths, a deceptive margin since Smith did not urge her late.

“She’s got a good mind,” Hollendorfer said. “We think she’s a good horse and did what she had to do in the Chandelier.”