Songbird 'Wonderful' in Santa Anita Drill

Unbeaten Songbird, the likely favorite in upcoming Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) at Keeneland, worked six furlongs in 1:13 3/5 on Santa Anita Park's fast main track Oct. 18 under regular rider Mike Smith.



Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer called the move a "good work" after watching the drill through his binoculars from the grandstand.



"She felt wonderful," Smith said. "All systems are go. She really did everything nice and smooth and galloped out real good. One more little light breeze (Oct. 24) and then she heads on out."



A daughter of Medaglia d'Oro   owned by Fox Hill Farm, Songbird has three wins in her short career, all since July. She broke her maiden at first asking at Del Mar July 26, then went on to win the Del Mar Debutante (gr. I) and Chandelier (gr. I), all by 4 1/2 lengths or more.



NOVAK: Songbird Soars to Chandelier Victory



Phil D'Amato's Breeders' Cup grass duo of Obviously and Big John B also worked Sunday at Santa Anita. Obviously, headed to the Breeder's Cup Mile (gr. IT), went five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 and Big John B, training for the Breeder's Cup Turf (gr. IT), drilled six furlongs in 1:15 2/5, both on the Santa Anita grass course. Exercise rider Jose Dominguez worked both horses.



"They both had big, strong gallop-outs," D'Amato said. "I'm very, very pleased."



Other notable workouts Sunday came from Dortmund and Masochistic, who shared the bullet at five furlongs in :59 2/5, as well as Hoppertunity (six furlongs, 1:13 flat) and Bal a Bali (one mile in 1:39 3/5).