Songtress capable of much better

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Songtress, who came up empty as the big favorite in her local debut, has a license to redeem herself in the feature on a rare Saturday Woodbine card that doesn't have a stakes.

The feature, a second-level optional $62,500 claimer, will be run at 5 1/2 furlongs and goes as race 7.

Songtress, a lightly raced 4-year-old, showed ability right off the bat when she won her debut in the spring of her 2-year-old campaign, earning an 80 Beyer Speed Figure. She wound up seventh behind future champion Rachel Alexandra in her only other 2-year-old appearance in the Grade 3 Debutante Stakes at Churchill.

Songtress missed the second half of 2008 and all of 2009, before resurfacing in a first-level allowance March 7 at Fair Grounds. She won that six-furlong event convincingly, with an 82 Beyer.

Songtress dueled up front before fading to fourth as the 1-2 choice in a five-furlong optional claimer here April 3. She figured to bounce then, although her trip on what seemed like a dead rail may have also led to her downfall.

Trainer Steve Asmussen, who has won at a 16 percent clip third time off a layoff at Woodbine, will ride Luis Contreras on Songtress.

Brewtiful Girl and Not Just a Rumor, who were both nominated to Sunday's Grade 3 Whimsical Stakes, are among Songtress's six rivals.

Brewtiful Girl's lone triumph last year took place second time out in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance in April. She usually acquits herself well in the second start of her form cycle, which will be the scenario Saturday.

Brewtiful Girl rallied wide from fourth to finish second while beating Songtress on April 3. Emile Ramsammy retains the mount.

Not Just a Rumor also ran competitively last spring before tailing off. She missed the break in her season opener and is being reunited with Patrick Husbands, who was aboard for both of her scores.

Bear Lahaina defeated Songtress, Brewtiful Girl, and Not Just a Rumor on April 3, after battling three wide on the lead. She could challenge for the lead again under Eurico Da Silva, who has inherited the mount from Emma Wilson.

Wilson is sticking with Rashnaa, whom she guided to victory in a Dec. 6 allowance over 6 1/2 furlongs. She is sent out by trainer Bob Tiller, who has the likely favorite in the other allowance on the card, Exchange Note, in race 8.