Songbird: Anticipation Grows for 2017

“It is all Songbird,” is a phrase horse racing fans have become used to hearing. The three-year-old filly won each of her eleven starts before losing by a nose to Beholder in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Though it was the first time Songbird did not make a trip to the winner’s circle, it could not be considered a disappointment after all the magnificent filly has accomplished.

Songbird was Eclipse Champion Two-Year-Old Filly in 2015, and there seems to be no question that she will earn the Eclipse Award as Champion Three-Year-Old Filly this year. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro has already garnered seven Grade 1 victories, and her four-year-old season should be an exciting one to watch, especially with the chance of facing the boys.

Rumors of Songbird facing males followed her throughout all of 2016. Would she or would she not face the boys as a three-year-old filly? Some even hoped she would point for the Kentucky Derby instead of the Oaks, but she never made it to Churchill Downs due to a fever. The fillies she schooled also seemed too easy of a test. Race after race, Songbird cantered home and left her foes far behind. While her competitors would finish the race covered in dirt, Songbird returned with a shining coat and her ears pricked. Fox Hill Farm’s red and white silks appeared untouched by dirt as Mike Smith would take off his helmet, look up, and give thanks. Even in their first defeat, Smith couldn’t help but to perform the same action after a valiant runner-up effort to champion Beholder.

We’ve yet to see what Songbird can do against the boys. The Distaff was her first time against fillies and mares older than her and she nearly won it after leading most of the way. The filly has only been seriously challenged once in her twelve starts. Many have tried and failed, but it took a top older champion mare to get the job done.

The plan was not to end the season with a second in the Distaff, but the thought of what Songbird will show in her four-year-old year is enough to keep the adrenaline pumping. She is currently resting up for the winter at WinStar Farm in Kentucky, and when she returns to Jerry Hollendorfer’s care in California, perhaps 2017 will be the year we see just what she is capable of.

Effort after effort, Songbird never disappointed. With time to rest and grow at WinStar, Songbird will likely come back better than ever. Her four-year-old season promises a load of excitement after the amount of times she cantered home while her competition furiously chased. Her geared down wins were like a tease to her fans.

Nine years ago, racing watched as another Medaglia d’Oro filly by the name of Rachel Alexandra took center stage and defeated sophomore males in the Preakness and the Haskell before beating older horses in the Woodward. Songbird left the males alone at three, but that’s not to say she can’t provide the same thrill at age four that Rachel Alexandra did at three.

Along with her 11 brilliant wins, Songbird has also won the hearts of the racing world, just as Rachel Alexandra did. She has managed to captivate people and their hopes of seeing an all-time great. When American Pharoah retired from the track after ending the 37-year drought of Triple Crown winners, a handful of horses stepped up to the plate to keep the excitement fueled. There was no chance of a Triple Crown winner this year, but there were plenty of good horses to make up for it, and Songbird was right there in the mix.

The anticipation of watching Songbird race in the older filly and mare division, as well as taking a shot at the boys, looms ahead in 2017. Until then, we are left with the memories of all she accomplished in turning back the best in her age group and gliding past the Graveyard of Champions at Saratoga. With all the talent she showed at age two and three, it is hard to be patient to see what she does at age four, but good things are supposed to come to those who wait.

By Christine Oser