Songbird Continues Toward Kentucky Oaks with Perfect Record

Songbird Continues Toward Kentucky Oaks with Perfect Record: How often do juvenile fillies that are the best of the best come back at age three to still be the best of the best? The last filly to be named Champion 2-Year-Old Filly that went on to win the Kentucky Oaks was Hall of Famer Silverbulletday. Since then, top two-year-old fillies have come back to have fantastic careers, normally, but typically fail to capture the Kentucky Oaks. This does not seem like the case for Songbird.

Songbird is a perfect 5-for-5 in her career, defeating multiple graded stakes winners, including Rachel’s Valentina. Songbird will have some speedy types to potentially face in the Kentucky Oaks, but even then, Songbird seems to be in a league of her own.

“She has such a high cruising speed, she has gears,” said Smith, who has been aboard for all five of her wins. “You always worry about horses that are brilliant at two. Sometimes they won’t mature or grow anymore at three. You’re anxious to see what will happen…She seems to have improved. She seemed to up her game even more, especially mentally. She was very happy today and took it all in stride.”

Rick Porter of Fox Hill Farm, owner of the filly, is not sure what they will do between now and the Santa Anita Oaks, which will be run on April 9.

“We want to run here at Santa Anita…We’ll think about it and try to do the right thing.”

Rick Porter is no stranger to having good fillies in his hands. Not only has he had Songbird, but he also campaigned Havre De Grace (Saint Liam) and the ill-fated Eight Belles (Unbridled’s Song). Havre De Grace won multiple graded stakes while Eight Belles finished second in the 2008 Kentucky Derby before fatally breaking down. This happening may be a major reason for why Porter does not want to run his prize filly in the spring classic.

Songbird, if she were to win the 2016 Kentucky Oaks, would be the third Kentucky Oaks winner for sire Medaglia d’Oro, who has had Plum Pretty and Rachel Alexandra in the past.

Songbird is bred to continue improving as distances increase. The 1-1/8 miles of the Kentucky Oaks poses no likely threat to Songbird. However, Songbird has not run on a sloppy track, which is always a possibility come Oaks day. She has been able to handle pressure early, particularly when she went toe-to-toe with Bob Baffert’s filly Pretty ‘n’ Cool in the Grade I Del Mar Debutante.

“It’s hard to explain the feeling,” said Rick Porter, owner of Fox Hill Farms. “She just gives you goosebumps and you just wonder ‘How did I get this horse?’ I don’t think I’ve ever had one that’s so dominant and does things so easily.”

Pedigree and class are in no shortage of supply when it comes to Songbird, and for Rick Porter, he’s definitely looking to win the Kentucky Oaks with this filly. The $400,000 2014 Saratoga yearling is looking more and more like a superstar with every passing day, workout, and race.

Songbird is the points leader for the Kentucky Oaks with 40 points.

The Kentucky Oaks is to be run on May 6, the first Friday in May, and is to be accompanied by Oaks Lilies, hats, fashion, and more!