Songbird sharp in gate work

ARCADIA, Calif. – Songbird was up early Wednesday morning at Santa Anita, reacquainting herself with the starting gate in a six-furlong workout that was her first drill since she was named champion 2-year-old filly of 2015 on Saturday night.

Songbird worked from the gate at 6:45 a.m. as trainer Jerry Hollendorfer prepares her for the Grade 2 Las Virgenes on Feb. 6. It was the filly’s first gate work since last year, when she won all four of her starts, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Oct. 31.

“It was just to remind her what the gate is,” Hollendorfer said. “I like to give them a gate work if they’re coming off any length of time off.”

Songbird caught company early in the work, disposed of that rival, and rolled home alone in 1:11.80. She galloped out seven furlongs in 1:25 and a mile in 1:39.80.

“She does it so easy; look how smooth she is,” Hollendorfer said as Songbird slowed to a walk, turned around, and meandered back to her stable.

Hollendorfer has been able to dodge wet weather while preparing Songbird for her return.

“We’ve been lucky so far,” he said. “She’s on a six-day schedule, and the reason I want to keep her on a stricter schedule now is in case I have to fudge later if there is bad weather or something.”

Though Songbird has not raced in nearly three months and spent one month turned out at a farm in Kentucky, Hollendorfer marvels at her appearance.

“Ordinarily, you would think a horse that was out there in Kentucky for a while would have a winter coat,” he said. “But she is nice and slick and looks great. Her weight is good, and she is eating good. We think she’s pretty close.”

Songbird is owned by Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farms.