PENNSYLVANIA EQUESTRIAN August 2016 Page 39 Unbeaten Soars Into Saratoga (Continued from page 17) Walker who rode Songbird from "We’re very grateful to have her earliest days. Together, they a that can do the things she of the Year , who teach young horses step by step can," said the 70-year old trainer. defeated males in the Woodward the ropes of the racing game. In “We liked her from the very be- and finished fourth in the Breeders' the training business since 1970, ginning. You don't really expect Cup Classic. Havre de Grace sold Recio also tutors young horses to get horses that win that easily, for a record $10 million at the 2012 from Lane's End Farm and Lael or win by a lot." Fasig-Tipton November Sale, the Stable-- Roy and Gretchen Jack- Songbird broke her maiden at highest price ever for a broodmare son's racing operation. Del Mar, winning at six furlongs by at public auction. He also raced "Songbird arrived as a grand 6 ½ lengths. In her next two stakes two Derby runners-up, looking filly with a great mind, it was the same story-- shooting to the colt Hard Spun (2007) and the comfortable everywhere she the lead, galloping at a comfortable filly Eight Belles (2008). He won went," recalled Reci, 68. "She had pace and then pulling clear on the the 2006 Breeders' Cup Distaff such a fluid way of moving and far turn to win easily at Santa Anita. with Round Pond. very high energy. She never made “When she came to Jerry's Bred in Kentucky by John mistakes, never got tired, both barn, from the first time I got on Antonelli, Songbird was put on very rare. After a work she came her I knew she was the real deal," Songbird turns in another dominating performance in the Summer- Porter's longtime bloodstock agent back as fresh as when she went observed jockey Smith, 50, who time Stakes at Santa Anita keeping her perfect record winning an Tom McGreevey's short list. He out. The only thing that concerned was contemplating retirement until eighth straight race. Photo credit: purchased her for $400,000 at the me was she didn't grow until Songbird arrived. "The way she 2014 Fasig-Tipton New York Sara- April, then she really shot up. runs is so dominant. She’s so big It was more of the same in show us anything different," toga yearling sale. McGreevey "We match the babies up and has a huge stride for her age." on April 5. Her Porter observed. also bought Hard Spun and Havre evenly head-to-head, so as not to In the filly's final race of toughest opponent that day was the From the start of the year the de Grace for Foxhill Farm. damage their spirits. I put Songbird the season, the 14 Hands Win- sloppy and sealed track. It didn't owner was peppered with ques- When McGreevy evaluates with a nice filly by in the ery Breeders' Cup Juvenile faze her. Racing on an off-track tions on whether his filly would a sales prospect he looks for a morning and all of a sudden Song- (Grade-1) at Santa Anita, for the first time, Songbird turned compete in the . beautiful walk, a fluid move- bird starts running away from that Songbird demolished nine foes in another effortless performance He never wavered in his stance. ment that shows that all of the filly. Afterwards Allyson tells me, steadily drawing away on Oct. covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.14. "She was too young to battle yearling's parts fit together. Then 'I can't hold her back anymore.' But 31. Smith has collected 22 “She’s just incredible," the colts in a 20-horse stampede," there are the intangibles, such as you know she's such a sweetheart. Breeders' Cup victories, the most Smith raved. "I keep pinching Porter said. "It would have been confidence and attitude and how a Never out of line, did everything in the history of the event. myself, having to remind myself too tough for her running against young horse deals with the pres- the right way. So confident. The that I’m the one that gets to keep colts multiple times in prep races. sure of a busy, noisy sales venue. babies go out across an expansive Effortless Performances the weight on her. That’s really She only turned three on April It's their first time away from a field to work and there's Songbird After the victory Porter sent all I do. She’s so professional, so 30. I wasn't looking to increase farm, their first exposure to a city out ahead of the lead pony, not the filly to Winstar Farm for a good at everything. She was spin- her broodmare value. She's pretty environment. It tends to reflect back with the rest of the babies. thirty-day rest and to be evalu- ning her wheels a little bit going much already reached optimal how the young horse will handle With a filly like Songbird, I was ated by Dr. Larry Bramlage who into the first turn but once we got value, other than being named the physical and mental stress of just patient and tried to stay out of performed a nuclear scan that to the backside, she found her 'Horse of the Year.' If she's performing at a racetrack. the way. She was truly a gift." she passed with flying colors. rhythm and she got comfortable healthy and doing well, I would "At the sales you want them When his longtime trainer Songbird returned to training in and it was all her again. like to race her at 4 and 5." to come out of the stall and be Larry Jones was unable to take California last December. "She has gears and mentally Still, the speculation con- able to adapt very quickly to this any more horses in 2015, Porter At odds of 1-10 in the Las Vir- this year she's upped her game. tinues to when she'll take on the new environment," McGreevey sent Songbird to Hollendorfer's genes Stakes, Songbird blew away She gives you so much confidence. boys. Mike Smith has no doubts. explained. "You want the horse barn at Santa Anita. The Hall of her five opponents by 6 1/2 lengths I'm blessed to be part of this team." "She can run a lot faster," to appear confident in everything Fame trainer conditioned Blind at Santa Anita on February 7. In the Porter was confident that Smith insisted. "If I’d even just they do. Songbird has been like Luck who defeated Havre de Santa Ysable Stakes also at Santa Songbird would handle the off gathered her up and asked her, that from the get- go." Grace by a neck and a nose in Anita the champion filly went to track in the Santa Anita Oaks. there’s no telling how fast she Porter sends his young 2011. A gracious and unassuming the lead early and cruised home on "We’ve found that most can run. As for taking on males, horses in the fall to Bill Recio man, Hollendorfer ranks third all- March 5. She upped her record to really good horses can handle any she’s been ready. She’s just that and his team in Ocala: Eugene time in total victories with more 6-for-6 with a 3 3/4-length romp. kind of surface – today, she didn’t special.” Recio, Lila Aquirre and Allyson than 7,100 wins and counting.