Porter's 2016 Plan for Songbird
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Songbird
The 2016 late winter/spring schedule for undefeated Songbird, who will soon be crowned champion 2-year-old filly of 2015, has been mapped out with the goal being the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) instead of taking on males early, according to her owner Rick Porter.
The daughter of (Medaglia d'Oro —Ivanavinalot, by West Acre), who races under Porter's Fox Hill banner, has been turned out at WinStar Farm in Kentucky since the Breeders' Cup World Championships. She will ship to Hollendorfer in California Dec. 3. The plan is to run her in the Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) at a mile Feb. 6 and then in the Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) at 1 1/16 miles April 9 before a return to Kentucky for the Oaks May 6.
"Two prep races are probably enough, but if Jerry thinks she needs something in between February and April based on how she's doing, we'll talk about that," Porter said.
After Songbird demolished nine foes to win the 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) Oct. 31, Porter said that he "wouldn't rule out" running Songbird in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Porter now says: "I've ruled it out."
Porter, who races Songbirdunder his Fox Hill Farms banner, ran Eight Belles in the 2008 Derby, where she finished second and then broke down after the wire. He also ran his 2011 Horse of the Year Havre de Grace against males in that year's Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), in which she placed fourth. But Porter and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer have set forth a different blueprint for Songbird, whose four victories include three in grade I company, and who ran faster on Breeders' Cup day then did the males in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I).
After thinking about trying to gain entrance into the Derby, which, based on the present points system would require Songbird to face males before the Derby, Porter said the decision was easy.
"I don't think it's the right thing for her to have to run against colts multiple times this early in her career, and Jerry is on the same page," he said. "I'm not looking to increase her value as a broodmare; she's already reached optimal value, unless if she were to win Horse of the Year. Running in the Derby would just be for ego, and I'm over that. I would love to win the Derby, but with a really good colt.
"I'm fine trying to win a couple more grade I's in California and try for the Oaks. And, although I'm talking way in advance here, I'd love to try for the triple crown in New York with the Mother Goose, Coaching Club American Oaks, and Alabama (all gr. I). Then, if she was still running like a superstar, maybe take on the boys before she retired, like Havre de Grace. That would be ideal to me."
Bred in Kentucky by John Antonelli, Songbird has won all four of her races and $1,502,000 to date. No horse has finished closer to her than 4 1/2 lengths, the margin by which she finished in front of Land Over Sea in the Chandelier Stakes (gr. I).