Songbird Records Final Workout for Ogden Phipps
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Photo: Zoe Metz
Songbird works a half-mile under Mike Smith
Fox Hill Farm's Songbird logged her final workout June 6 for her 2017 debut in the $750,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) June 10, and is set to depart for Belmont Park.
Santa Anita Park clockers caught the two-time champion filly's half-mile work in :46 2/5, with fractions of :23 1/5 and :35 flat, and a gallop out to five furlongs in :58 4/5 under jockey Mike Smith.
"She's all set," said trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who had Songbird's gallop out to five furlongs in 1:00 flat on his stopwatch. "It was very easy. She'll take the early plane (June 7), settle in (at Belmont), jog Thursday, and gallop Friday."
The Hall of Fame trainer said the seven months of preparation to get the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro ready to race will pay off if she runs well in the Ogden Phipps, which will be her first start since a nose second to four-time champion Beholder in the Nov. 4 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Santa Anita.
Songbird's return to the races was delayed earlier in the year, when she suffered a minor injury from kicking her stall in March. After the injury she's worked steadily and has recorded 10 timed workouts, including her first of the year April 9.
BALAN: Songbird's Training Delayed by Minor Injury
"The reward comes if she runs well," Hollendorfer said. "She's all set, and we hope to do our best."