Poetic Justice for Fox Hill Farm
This week the racing world was stunned by the retirement of Fox Hill Farm’s Songbird. She had bone bruising over the winter and was slow to recover, but was finally given the green light. However, the two-time Eclipse award winning mare’s performances in her three races this year were not quite up to her previous standards.
She won two of her races and came in second in her final race but something wasn’t quite right. After her last race, she was taken to Rood & Riddle for evaluation. Dr. Bramlage saw lameness and after x-rays were taken, a distinct line on the bone was present. A bone scan and MRI also followed and it was clear that for Songbird to continue training would be dangerous. The Porters made the right call, as they always do, and decided to retirement their incredible mare from racing.
July 30, at Del Mar, a different Fox Hill Farm filly had heads spinning. By Violence, her name is Poetic and her name suited the fashion in which she broke her maiden that day. The dark bay two-year old filly has a beautiful stride and, with Mike Smith in the irons, she won by 1 ½ lengths.
Her next race will be the Del Mar Debutante, the same race won by Songbird (pictured above) after she broke her maiden, and Smith has committed to riding her again. Richard Mandella, her trainer, and the whole Fox Hill Family are quite high on this filly, so keep an eye out. She’ll be stepping up into Grade 1 company in the Del Mar Debutante on September 2.
Nothing can replace Songbird but Poetic eases the loss...just a bit.