Bird Song - Singing in the Rain in the Alysheba
Over a sloppy track that was very similar to the one the race’s namesake, Alysheba, won over in the 1988 Breeder’s Cup Classic at Churchill Downs, Bird Song went wire to wire to win the 15th running of the $400,000 Alysheba Stakes Presented by Big Fish Casino (G2) today at Churchill Downs.
After breaking his maiden in his third try last June, Bird Song seems to have finally hit his best stride now in 2017. After starting the season off in Florida at Gulfstream with a second place finish in the Grade 2 Hal’s Hope, Bird Song won his first graded stakes rolling to a wire to wire win in the Gr3 Fred W. Hooper Stakes in his next start. Shipped north for the spring, Bird Song went off the favorite in the Gr3 Ben Ali at Keeneland but was beaten three lengths while finishing third.
Today, Bird Song was allowed to go off as the fourth choice at 6-1 as the post time favorite at 3-2 was the highly regarded American Freedom. American Freedom hasn’t been seen in a race in a while, he last appeared over eight months ago in that historic track record setting Travers Stakes. American Freedom was the horse who finished second – thirteen lengths behind the top ranked horse in the world – Arrogate.
With the scratch of the number seven horse, Flashy Jewel, ten horses went to the gate today in the 8 1/2 furlong affair and it was Bird Song, after breaking a bit slow, rushing up from the rail to grab the early lead as the field headed into the first turn. American Freedom, breaking from the nine post, showed good early speed to take up residence in second, about 1 1/2 lengths behind. Honorable Duty, winner of his last three starts, all stakes, took up residence along the rail in third, another 1/2 length behind American Freedom.
Through a first quarter in 23.23 and a half in 46.78 the order was unchanged, as Bird Song was going easily on the front end with Julien Leparoux in the irons. Rafael Bejarano who was aboard American Freedom, sensed that Bird Song may be getting away from them so he started to ask his horse for more. James Graham also started to ask his horse, Honorable Duty, for more as Bird Song was getting away from the both of them as they entered the stretch.
Turning for home it was clear this was Bird Song’s race to lose, and the Unbridled's Song colt had plenty more in the tank as Leparoux went to the right handed stick. Honorable Duty tried in vain to catch the longtime leader but could only get as close as 1 1/2 lengths at the wire, International Star closed well from the back to finish another length back in third. American Freedom ran evenly in the stretch and was beaten by 3 3/4 lengths by the winner.
Julien Leparoux marveled as his trip afterwards saying, “I was expecting three or four other horses to go with me, but I got myself in a good spot on the lead. I was pretty much by myself until the end. He kept going until the end.”
Bird Song is owned by Marylou Whitney, and he is trained by Ian Wilkes. Wilkes is off to a good start this meet, and now he hopes to continue the good luck tomorrow with one of the favorites in the Kentucky Derby, McCraken. With the win today Bird Song improved his record to 11-5-2-1 and has now banked $484,207 for his connections.
As for the favorite, American Freedom, Rafael Bejarano commented after the race that the track was to blame for his defeat saying afterwards, “He didn’t like this track. We were afraid of that. He didn’t run well here last year (in the Pat Day Mile). He just didn’t fire late today.”
Bird Song paid $15.20, $7.00, and $5.00, Honorable Duty paid $4.60 and $3.60, and International Star paid $7.40 to show. The remaining order of finish was American Freedom, Breaking Lucky, December Seven, Noble Bird, Behesht (FR), El Huerfano and Fish Trappe Road. Final time for the mile and one-sixteenth was 1:44.34. Up next for Bird Song is a possible date with Gun Runner in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster in June.