Songbird Ready for 2016 Debut in Las Virgenes

Fox Hill Farms' undefeated Songbird will make her 2016 debut in the $300,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 6 and will again be a commanding favorite when the gates open at Santa Anita Park.



The undisputed class of the seven-filly field, the only question seemingly unanswered for the speedy daughter of Medaglia d'Oro  —who was crowned champion 2-year-old filly for her four-for-four 2015 campaign—in the mile dirt test is how she'll react to her first extended layoff.



Off since her 5 3/4-length victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) at Keeneland Oct. 31, Songbird has been training steadily at Santa Anita since late December. She's topped the worktab for the distance in three of her past four works, beginning with a bullet five-furlong drill Jan. 8 (:58 1/5, best of 53 at the distance) and capped by a seven-furlong work in 1:26 3/5 Jan. 27 for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

NOVAK: Songbird Scores in BC Juvenile Fillies



The time off isn't a concern, however, for Hollendorfer assistant Dan Ward, who pointed to her debut score at Del Mar in July, which she won by 6 1/2 lengths.



"She ran pretty well first time out," Ward said with a hint of sarcasm. "And that was from the rail and in a big field, but she did what she always does."



Songbird's main challengers aren't bereft of talent, but the question remains whether it measures up. The logical second choice is Agave Racing Stable's Street Fancy, last-out winner of the Starlet (gr. I) Dec. 12 at Los Alamitos Race Course.

NOVAK: Street Fancy Bursts to Starlet Score



The Street Sense   filly closed from seventh to win the 1 1/16-mile Starlet after she had to check early, but will have to deal with a new jockey for the first time. Mike Smith rode the Phil D'Amato trainee in her first three starts, but unsurprisingly will maintain his regular riding duties on Songbird. Victor Espinoza will jump aboard Street Fancy in the Las Virgenes.



D'Amato said Espinoza was impressed when he was in the irons for a five-furlong workout (:59 2/5) Jan. 24, but the trainer is concerned about how the race plays out Saturday.



"My filly, she hasn't missed one beat since the Starlet," D'Amato said. "She's continued to move forward working in the morning. I welcome the challenge. I just hope the rest of the field welcomes the challenge. They don't have to challenge her (for the lead), but I just don't want her out there all alone with everyone backing up, hoping for a placing.



"We're in it to win. We're going to try to win, but it's no disgrace whatsoever to finish second to Songbird."



Also in the field is Reddam Racing's Land Over Sea, who is more than familiar with Songbird. The Doug O'Neill-trained daughter of Bellamy Road   came in seventh in the Juvenile Fillies, second in the Chandelier (gr. I), and third in the Del Mar Debutante (gr. I).



Graded stakes-placed Decked Out, last-out allowance winner Jade Princess, last-out maiden winner Merirosvo, and maiden She's a Warrior complete the field.