Songbird Meets Familiar Foes in Chandelier
{{monthName}} {{day}}, {{year}} {{hour12}}:{{minuteTwoDigit}}{{dayPeriod}}
Photo:
Benoit Photo
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer’s undefeated Songbird will face Bob Baffert’s Pretty N Cool as well as Doug O’Neill’s Land Over Sea among a field of nine 2-year-old fillies Saturday in the Grade I, $300,000 Chandelier Stakes at going 1 1/16 miles.
Songbird, owned by Fox Hill Farms, will be seeking her third win in a row. After breaking her maiden over the new dirt track at Del Mar by six and a half lengths on July 26, Songbird went on to win impressively once again as the nearly even money favorite in the Grade I, Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 5. The five and a quarter-length win prompted regular rider Mike Smith to note, “For a big mare, things just come so easy for her.”
The bay filly by Medaglia d’Oro had her most recent work Monday, going a half mile under Smith in 47 1/5 on Santa Anita’s main track, second fastest of 68 at the distance. She is 2-2-0-0 lifetime with $222,000 in earnings.
Pretty N Cool comes off a game second in the Del Mar Debutante and draws the rail for Saturday. The Scat Daddy filly broke her maiden at first asking in a maiden special weight at Del Mar on July 19 and followed that with an impressive win as the odds-on favorite in the Grade II Sorrento Stakes Aug. 12.
The dark gray owned by Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman was purchased at the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sales for $160,000 and is 3-2-1-0 overall with $222,000 in earnings.
Land Over Sea enters the Chandelier off a third place finish in the Debutante. The Debutante marked a return to dirt after her win in a seven furlong turf maiden special weight. The chestnut filly by Bellamy Road’s first start came in a five and a half furlong maiden special weight test at Los Alamitos on July 12 when she ran second.
Land Over Sea will again be ridden by Mario Gutierrez. She is 3-1-1-1 overall with earnings of $88,000.
The complete field for the Grade I Chandelier Stakes, to be run as the eighth race on an 11-race card Saturday, with jockeys in post position order: Pretty N Cool, Martin Garcia; Halo Darlin, Tyler Baze; Vieja Luna, Juan Leyva; Yodelsong, Fernando Perez; Songbird, Mike Smith; Sheeza Milky Way, Rafael Bejarano; Land Over Sea, Mario Gutierrez; Jade Princess, Victor Espinoza; Right There, Kent Desormeaux. Each filly will carry 122 lbs.
Source: Santa Anita Park
Read More
Kentucky Derby 2026 prep season doesn't take a week off. Turfway Park steps into the spotlight with the...
Baeza , formerly trained by John Shirreffs, will be moved to trainer Bill Mott, Daily Racing Form reported...
Undefeated Paladin moved to the top of the Kentucky Derby 2026 standings with his win Saturday in the Grade...
This week's Prospect Watch showcases young Thoroughbreds with elite bloodlines ready to make their debuts across the country....
Connections of Al Haram , winner of the Group 3 Saudi Derby , are expected to point him...