Songbird Heading East for Summer Campaign

One of the equine jewels of the West Coast will be taking her undefeated record to the East for the summer.

A day after she had her way with an overmatched field in her fourth consecutive start at Santa Anita Park, owner Rick Porter decided Songbird needs to take it to the other top fillies in her division. He's has laid out a campaign that will likely include the July 24 Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) and Aug. 20 Alabama (gr. I)—both at Saratoga Race Course—followed by Sept. 24 Cotillion Stakes (gr. I) at Parx Racing and the Breeders' Cup back at Santa Anita.

Porter said he is "almost positive" the $300,000 CCA Oaks will be Songbird's next landing spot but didn't rule out the July 7 Delaware Oaks (gr. III), which carries the same purse at Delaware Park.

"That's the plan right now," Porter said of the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, who just completed her eighth consecutive romp June 18 in the Summertime Oaks (gr. II). "The timing is better for the American Oaks and everybody wants us to run against Carina Mia and Cathryn Sophia, and we want to run against them too."

BALAN: Songbird Maintains Dominance in Summertime

In her eight victories, including seven graded wins and four grade Is, Songbird has yet to field a serious challenge in the stretch, but seven have been in Southern California—either at Santa Anita or Del Mar. The one time she did ship, however, the result remained the same. She routed the field in the 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) at Keeneland.