Songbird Works Toward 3-Year-Old Debut
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Photo: Clocker's Corner/Zoe Metz
Songbird worked five furlongs in :58 1/5 Jan. 8 at Santa Anita Park.
Undefeated 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) winner Songbird, who is expected to be named champion 2-year-old filly of 2015 when Eclipse Award winners are announced Jan. 16, worked five furlongs in a bullet :58 1/5 Jan. 8 at Santa Anita Park under regular rider Mike Smith.
It was the fastest of 53 drills at the distance, the average time of which was 1:00.81. Santa Anita clocker Dane Nelson had fractional times for Songbird of :34 flat and :46 1/5, with a gallop out to six furlongs in 1:11 2/5.
The work had been scheduled to take place around noon Friday, prior to the first race at the Southern California racetrack, but with the dirt track in prime condition despite recent heavy rains, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer called an audible.
"The track is in great shape," the Hall of Famer said, explaining why he altered plans for the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro owned by Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farms. "She just did everything real easy. She has a good mind. Mike knows her and has been on for most of her works. I'm satisfied."
Songbird is scheduled to make her 3-year-old debut in the $300,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Feb. 6.