Songbird slated to work out next Sunday

ARCADIA, Calif.-Songbird, the undefeated champion 2-year-old filly of 2015, is scheduled to have a workout at Santa Anita on May 22, her first since being sidelined with an illness in April.

Songbird has not raced since winning the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks on April 9. Following that race, Songbird was diagnosed with a fever that prevented her from starting in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 6.

Owned by Rick Porter, Songbird galloped at Santa Anita on Sunday and has progressed well in training in recent weeks, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.

“It’s not going to take her long to get ready,” Hollendorfer said. “I’d estimate she’ll breeze next Sunday.”

Songbird has won seven races and earned $1,982,000. She won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland last October.

At the current spring-summer meeting at Santa Anita, there is one remaining graded stakes for 3-year-old fillies – the $200,000 Summertime Oaks at 1 1/16 miles on June 18. Hollendorfer was reluctant to commit Songbird to that Grade 2 race over the weekend, pending her development in coming weeks.

“I haven’t decided yet,” he said. “I want to get her back working.”