Songbird Soars into Alabama

By Will Robbins

Six challengers will attempt to dethrone undefeated champion Songbird in the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 20 at Saratoga Race Course. 

Fox Hill Farm's untouchable filly has displayed remarkable versatility in nine career starts, winning by a combined 47 3/4 lengths at distances ranging from six furlongs to 1 1/8 miles. The 1 1/4-mile Alabama marks the farthest she's ever run. 

"Based on appearances and looking at her record on paper you'd have to think that she wouldn't have any trouble getting a mile-and-a-quarter," trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said the morning of Aug. 17. "I firmly believe that if we had decided to run in the Delaware Handicap on the 15th (of July) instead of coming here and running in the Coaching Club American Oaks, we were fully prepared to go a mile and a quarter. I feel like an extra eighth of a mile should be right up her alley.

"She's trained well on every racetrack—Keeneland, Santa Anita, and Del Mar—she just trains well on any surface. She's so consistent and such a sweetheart around the barn. She came here to Saratoga and settled right in, and you know I'll probably take her home after the race and I think she'll settle right back in at Del Mar. We're looking forward to running on Saturday. It'll be interesting."

Hollendorfer won the 2010 Alabama with champion 3-year-old filly and six-time grade I winner Blind Luck. Songbird will break from the 6 hole under regular rider Mike Smith. She breezed a half-mile Aug. 15 in her final prep work for her second start at Saratoga, and was clocked in splits of :24.22 and :47.49, galloping out in 1:01.19.

"It was smooth, in her regular Songbird fashion," said assistant trainer Christina Jelm. 

GENARO: Songbird "Perfect" in Final Alabama Prep

Last year's Alabama winner Embellish the Lace, who did not run in the CCA Oaks, ended a three-year streak of consecutive CCA Oaks—Alabama winners; Questing, Princess of Sylmar, and Stopchargingmaria all brought home the grade I double. 

Coffeepot Stables' CCA Oaks third-place finisher Flora Dora returns in this spot, adding blinkers after two bullet works with the new equipment. 

"She's been a bit more focused," said trainer Marialice Coffey. "Instead of looking at the horses as she's passing them, she seems to be looking down the lane a little bit better. She went like a monster, but she isn't trying; she's just doing it very easily."

Other contenders include WinStar Farms' Dark Nile, who won the Delaware Oaks (gr. III) in her last start, Mike Tarp's Black-Eyed Susan (gr. II) winner Go Maggie Go, and Gary and Mary West's grade II winner Family Tree. 

The Alabama is one of two back-to-back grade I races slotted on the card, as the Fourstardave was rescheduled to Saturday after the final six races of the Aug. 13 card were cancelled due to severe weather.  

ROBBINS: Fourstardave Draws Salty Field