Strong work takes little out of Songbird

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The theory that Songbird would improve with more experience training over Saratoga’s main track is proving to be valid.

Tuesday morning, in her second breeze over the track since winning the Coaching Club American Oaks, Songbird sailed through five furlongs in 1:00.70. She got her last half-mile in 46.73 seconds under exercise rider Edgar Rodriguez.

The best part of the breeze may have come after the wire when she galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.63, seven-eighths in 1:26.19, and a mile in 1:39.71.

Songbird, last year’s champion 2-year-old filly and undefeated in nine career starts, is pointing to the Grade 1 Alabama here on Aug. 20.

Time-wise, the work was similar to last week’s move, when Songbird went five furlongs in 1:00.65, but her gallop out on Tuesday was a bit better. Songbird was blowing a little after last week’s work, whereas on Tuesday, “she really cooled out fast,” according to Christina Jelm, who oversaw the work for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

Hollendorfer, speaking from Northern California, said he moved the work up one day due to a “very unstable” forecast in the New York area, which calls for rain parts of the next four days.

Songbird had her usual pre-training routine Tuesday, coming out shortly after 5:30 a.m. and visiting the paddock for a few minutes before backing up to the eighth pole and standing with a pony. She jogged alongside the pony all the way around the clubhouse turn and down the backstretch before leaving just a few strides before the five-furlong pole. That’s why she went her first eighth in 13.97 seconds.

“That’s why Jerry likes to have Edgar breeze her," Jelm said. "He breaks off nice and easy and lets her build momentum on her own, and that’s what we did today. That was the plan. Edgar did a perfect job.”

Jelm seemed happy that Hollendorfer moved the work up by one day because Songbird had gotten aggressive in her recent morning gallops.

“She’s definitely improving every day,” Jelm said. “Even the past couple of days galloping, Edgar’s arms have been a little sore. I don’t know if it’s because he’s riding one horse a day or because she’s been tugging on him. She’s definitely getting fit for this surface - horses for courses. She’s liking this course.”

Songbird will likely have one more breeze next week before the Alabama. She will also visit the starting gate and school during the afternoon twice in the days leading to the Alabama.

Among her rivals for the Alabama will be Going for Broke, a Chad Brown-trained filly who has won three consecutive starts. On Tuesday, she worked a half-mile in 49.92 seconds over the main track in company with Performance Bonus.

Also expected for the Alabama are Dark Nile, Flora Dora, and Weep No More.