Songbird Gives Porter Another Crack at Del Cap

For owner Rick Porter, a victory in the $750,000 Delaware Handicap (G1) would mean a lot as the big race at his local track. On July 15 he will send out two-time champion filly Songbird in an effort to land the $750,000 race for fillies and mares at Delaware Park.

Fox Hill Farms' Songbird was installed as the 1-5 favorite in Saturday's 1 1/4-mile test, where Songbird, carrying 124 pounds, will spot five expected rivals nine to 13 pounds.

This year's Del Cap will mark the third time Porter's Fox Hill Farms has targeted the race. He finished fourth in 2001 with Jostle and 10 years later Havre de Grace finished second, one of only two losses suffered by the 2011 Horse of the Year. Before that race, Porter talked about what a Del Cap win would mean to him.

"It is certainly high on the list and right up there with some of the most prestigious races in the country," Porter said in 2011. "Obviously, being from Delaware and being the biggest race in Delaware, it is high—very high—on my list."

In her second start of the season, Songbird will break from post 5 with jockey Mike Smith aboard. The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro   looked as spectacular as ever in her 4-year-old season debut, where she scored by one length in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) June 10 at Belmont Park. Songbird appeared to race well within herself throughout that 1 1/16-mile test, putting away a challenge from Paid Up Subscriber in midstretch.

Since that effort, Songbird has turned in three strong workouts at Santa Anita Park of a half-mile, five furlongs, and seven furlongs for Racing Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. In the five-furlong move June 29, Songbird earned the bullet among 29 workers when she completed the distance in :59 3/5.

Hollendorfer will be looking for his third Del Cap victory after winning the 2008 edition with Hystercalady and knocking of Havre de Grace by a nose in 2011 with Blind Luck.

"I have run at Delaware before in a few races and I have been real fortunate in that most my horses have gotten over the racetrack," Hollendorfer said. "Songbird is training really well right now and we are hopeful she can come in there and have a good start." 

The Delaware Handicap is scheduled for an approxmiate post time of 5:30 p.m. with coverage on Fox Sports 2, MSG+, Fox Sports Prime Ticket, Fox Sports Ohio, and Fox Sports San Diego.

Among the Delaware Handicap starters looking for the upset this year will be Ashbrook Farm's Weep No More (6-1 morning line). A late-running 4-year-old daughter of Mineshaft  , Weep No More will try to end a five-race skid dating back to last year's Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1).

The field's only other horse at single-digit morning-line odds is Vince Campanella and Nation's Racing Stable's Martini Glass. Trained by co-owner Keith Nations, Martini Glass enters off a runner-up finish in the Obeah Stakes June 10 at Delaware.

"My filly is doing great and she is just getting better and better," Nations said. "We are just excited to be in a race like this, not only with a horse I train, but one we own a part of. Realistically, if we could just get a part of it, it would be a really big deal for us.  

"You know I had Songbird in my barn last year at Parx (Racing) for the Cotillion (G1) and she is an extremely impressive filly. A while ago, Jerry (Hollendorfer) and I were stabled right next to each other at Golden Gate (Fields). He is an incredible horsemen and his record speaks for itself. Just to be in this race, is a big deal for us."

Rounding out the field are Miss Mo Kelly, Line of Best Fit, and Hone In.

Delaware H. (G1)

Delaware Park, Saturday, July 15, 2017, Race 9

• 1 1/4m
• Dirt
• $750,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 5:30 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Miss Mo Kelly (KY)	Carol Cedeno	111	Kellyn Gorder	15/1
2	2Martini Glass (KY)	Jose C. Ferrer	115	Keith Nations	8/1
3	3Weep No More (KY)	Eric Cancel	111	George R. Arnold, II	6/1
4	4Line of Best Fit (ON)	Edwin Gonzalez	112	Kieron Magee	12/1
5	5Songbird (KY)	Mike E. Smith	124	Jerry Hollendorfer	1/5
6	6Hone In (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	111	Victoria H. Oliver	15/1