Songbird 'Ready' After Final SoCal Breeze

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith knows a little something about prepping a commanding favorite heading into a big race, and he was more than happy with the final Santa Anita Park workout for Songbird, the expected top choice in the upcoming 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) at Keeneland.



Under Smith just as the sun peeked over the horizon, the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Medaglia d'Oro   filly breezed four furlings in :47 2/5.



"She's ready, man," Smith said after the drill. "She's fit and she's well. She went (about) :48 flat this morning like a walk in the park. I loved her energy level. Pulling up (and) coming back, she was on her toes and this little bite in the air helps them as well. Keeneland is supposed to have nice weather and be cool, so she should love it. All systems go."



It was the fourth timed workout for the Fox Hill Farms-owned filly since a handy 4 1/2-length victory in the Chandelier Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Sept. 26. Three weeks prior, she took the Del Mar Debutante (gr. I) with similar ease.



NOVAK: Songbird Soars to Chandelier Victory



"She's special. She really is," Smith said. "And she's proven that on her own, without anyone really having to say that for her. I haven't talked for her before and I'm not going to talk for her now. I'm going to let her keep showing everybody."

Another Hollendorfer trainee, Wild Dude, also worked in the first session Saturday morning, covering five furlongs in an easy 1:03 1/5 while working in company. He's scheduled to make a run in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I).