Songbird Drills Bullet at Santa Anita
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Songbird posts a bullet five-furlong breeze Sept. 12 at Santa Anita in final major drill before the Cotillion (gr. I) at Parx Racing
Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer was scoping out the next generation of potential Thoroughbred champions at the Keeneland September sale Sept. 12. But he took a moment from his yearling review to give champion Songbird an "A-plus" for her morning bullet at Santa Anita Park, the last major work before her engagement in the Sept. 24 Cotillion (gr. I) at Parx Racing.
The 3-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro earned the rare Southern California "breezing" tag for five furlongs in :58 4/5, fastest of 41 at the distance on the day.
"We had a very nice and smooth work, and the clockers labeled it breezing—which for a fast work, :58 and four, I thought that was pretty good," Hollendorfer said. "She had a nice gallop-out in :12 and four, out in :26 and two for the seven furlongs. That's our major work before we blow out and get on the plane next week."
Songbird shipped east to win the July 24 Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) and the Aug. 20 Alabama Stakes (gr. I), both at Saratoga Race Course, then returned to her California home base to train for the Cotillion.
"So far, she's been able to do that and handle everything fine," Hollendorfer said. "It's going to be an interesting race, there will be other good fillies in there, too."