Songbird Exits Alabama in Good Order

The morning after her seven-length victory in the Alabama Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 20, undefeated Songbird was relaxed and happy, said Christina Jelm, who has overseen trainer Jerry Hollendorfer's horses at Saratoga this summer.

"She had a nice long walk, she posed for a bunch of pictures, she ate grass, and she wanted her ears rubbed,"Jelm said. "She soared and had a beautiful landing (after the Alabama)."

The seemingly effortless win in the 1 1/4-mile Alabama took little out of last year's 2-year-old champion filly, who cleaned her feed tub after the race.

Songbird has been stabled at Saratoga for most of meet; on July 24 she won the Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I). She's scheduled to leave Saratoga at midnight Aug. 22 for a flight from Albany, N.Y., to Lexington, and then will travel to Southern California.

She'll be joined on the plane by another Hollendorfer filly, Dr. Fager's Gal, who finished third in the Union Avenue Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 18, and by groom Cesar Orante and exercise rider Edgar Rodriguez.

Hollendorfer was at the barn with Jelm at about 3 a.m. EDT Aug. 21 to check on Songbird before he headed back to California. Songbird will be walked and grazed again before heading to the airport.

The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro has won all 10 of her starts and earned more than $2.7 million. She was purchased by Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farm for $400,000 out of the Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency consignment at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale of selected yearlings.

Illness prevented Porter from attending the Alabama.

Jelm, who will remain at Saratoga for a short period after the horses leave, said Songbird continues to impress. "Ever since she has been here, she has continued to amaze. She gets better and better, and she came out of the race better than she went into it."