Songbird Soars in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies

Songbird And Mike Smith Soar To Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Win

In a scintillating performance, Fox Hill Farms’ Songbird flew down the stretch to win the Gr. 1 $2 million 14 Hands Winery Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. The bay daughter of Medaglia d’Oro took command of the field from the start and controlled the pace throughout before drawing away to win by an open 5 ¾ lengths.

The weeks leading up to the Breeders’ Cup were full of buzz, with the Juvenile Fillies being one of the most anticipated of the races. The higher touted fillies Songbird and Rachel’s Valentina topped a field of ten as the first and second morning line favorites, but the latter resulted in no contest.

“She just got out there and did her thing,” said Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer about Songbird. “She’s a really nice filly and we’re very blessed to have her. I thought she was doing things relatively easy, especially the second quarter when things slowed-up a bit. We’re looking forward to next year. We don’t have any plans yet, but we will.”

Songbird set early fractions of 0:23.60, 0:47.15, and 1:11.42 before going a mile in 1:36.33. The final time for the 1 1/16-mile race resulted in 1:42.73, just milliseconds away from the track record of 1:42.51, set last year by Only in America.

“Once we jumped out the gate, it was just a matter of me staying on. She’s so talented and she gives you so much confidence,” Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith stated. “I almost felt like yawning as we went along. I don’t mean that in a bragging way. She just gives me that much confidence. I’m really blessed to be a part of this great team.”

The victory was the second Breeders’ Cup victory for Hollendorfer, and the 22^nd for Smith, who remains the winningest Breeders’ Cup jockey to date.

Saturday’s win gives Songbird a perfect 4-4 record, with three of those victories having come in Gr. 1 races. Rachel’s Valentina, the youngest of Rachel Alexandra’s foals, finished second with John Velazquez in the irons, while Kenny McPeek trained Dothraki Queen ran third.

Purchased for $400,000 by Fox Hill Farms at the Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling Sale of 2014, Songbird has amassed $1,502,000 in career earnings since her debut in July of 2015.

Songbird paid $3.20, $2.40, and $2.10, with Rachel’s Valentina paying $3.80 and $3.40, and Dothraki Queen paying $5.80.

$2 Exacta → $13.40
$2 Trifecta → $120.00
$2 Superfecta → $390.80

Order of Finish: 1-Songbird, 2-Rachel’s Valentina, 3-Dothraki Queen, 4-Nickname, 5-Ma Can Do It, 6-Tap To It, 7-Land Over Sea, 8-Forever Darling, 9-Right There, 10-Bold Quality

Watch the replay: