Songbird Returns for G3 Santa Ysabel Stakes: What You Need to Know

WHAT:

Grade III, $100,000 SANTA YSABEL STAKES
Distance & Conditions:  1 1/16 miles for 3-year-old fillies

WHEN:

Saturday, March 5
Race 5, (approximate Post Time—2:30 p.m. PT)

WHY:

Undefeated Eclipse Champion Songbird will continue on her road to the Santa Anita and Kentucky Oaks for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and owner Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farms, Inc.  Considered by some to be America’s top 3-year-old, irrespective of gender, Songbird heads a field of 10 sophomore fillies.

WHO:

1 My Dynamo, Fernando Perez, Jeff Bonde, 119

2 Land Over Sea, Mario Gutierrez, Doug O’Neill, 119

3 Street Fancy, Victor Espinoza, Phil D’Amato, 123

4 Pageant Material, Santiago Gonzalez, Richard Baltas, 119

5 Merirosvo, Drayden Van Dyke, Patrick Gallagher, 119

6 Songbird, Mike Smith, Jerry Hollendorfer, 123

7 Code Warrior, Anne Sanguinetti, Manuel Badilla, 119

8 Jade Princess, Rafael Bejarano, Bob Baffert, 119

9 Not Now Carolyn, Kent Desormeaux, Keith Desormeaux, 119

10 Mokat, Flavien Prat, Richard Baltas, 119

SONGBIRD, owned by Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farms, Inc. and the Eclipse Champion 2-year-old Filly for 2015, will try to follow up on her sensational 6 ½ length win here in the Grade II, one mile Las Virgenes on Feb. 6 and extend her unbeaten streak to six.  The Kentucky-bred daughter of Medaglia d’Oro is unbeaten in two starts at Santa Anita and is prepping for the Grade I, 1 1/16 miles Santa Anita Oaks on April 9.  Regular rider Mike Smith termed her half mile workout in 48 flat here on Sunday thusly:  “That was probably one of the best half miles I’ve ever gone, about as easy and as smooth as you could possibly go—very impressive.”

LAND OVER SEA, owned by Reddam Racing, LLC, a Kentucky-bred filly by Bellamy Road has been soundly beaten by Songbird in four out of her six lifetime starts, including her most recent, as she finished second, beaten 6 ½ lengths, in the Las Virgenes Stakes here on Feb. 6.  Trained by Doug O’Neill, Land Over Sea was off at 23-1 in the Las Virgenes but figures to be a shorter price on Saturday as she hopes to improve on her last effort with regular rider Mario Gutierrez up.

STREET FANCY, owned by Agave Racing Stable, won the Grade I, 1 1/16 miles Starlet at Los Alamitos two starts back on Dec. 12, but was subsequently annihilated by Songbird in the Grade II,  Las Virgenes, finishing 28 lengths back while eased.  Trained by Phil D’Amato, Street Fancy, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Street Sense, will be ridden back by Victor Espinoza, who rode her for the first time on the Las Virgenes.

JADE PRINCESS, owned by Don Alberto Stable, showed brief speed and was subsequently beaten 13 lengths while running fifth behind Songbird in the Las Virgenes here Feb. 6.  Trained by Bob Baffert, the Kentucky-bred filly by Tapit was a 1 ¾ length first condition allowance winner going one mile here two starts back on Jan. 8.  In what will be her sixth career start, Jade Princess will be handled for the first time by leading man, Rafael Bejarano.

MOKAT, owned by J K Racing Stable and trained by Richard Baltas, comes off a close third place finish in a one mile turf allowance here on Feb. 5.  A Kentucky-bred filly by Uncle Mo, she has been favored in three out of her five starts but would appear better suited on turf.  A romping one mile turf maiden winner in her second start on Oct. 31 at Del Mar, she was subsequently second, beaten a half length, in the Grade III, one mile turf Jimmy Durante Stakes Nov. 28.  With Mike Smith opting to stick with the favorite, Mokat will be handled for the first time by Flavien Prat.

NOT NOW CAROLYN, owned by Big Chief Racing, LLC, Don’t Tell My Wife Stables, LLC and partners, this lightly raced daughter of Tapit comes off a solid gate to wire one mile maiden special weight win on Jan. 28 and appears to be an up and coming sort.  Well beaten in her first two tries, she improved dramatically in her first start for trainer Keith Desormeaux on Jan. 28 and if she can continue her ascent, she could be a factor on Saturday.

MY DYNAMO, owned by Rusty Brown, Phillip Lebherz and Alan Klein, returns to Santa Anita following a close second place finish in the 1 1/16 miles (synthetic Tapeta) California Oaks at Golden Gate Fields on Feb. 6.  Trained by Jeff Bonde, the Kentucky-bred filly by Discreetly Mine was fifth, beaten 2 ¾ lengths, two starts back in the 6 ½ furlong Santa Ynez Stakes here Jan. 2.  Ninth, beaten 22 lengths by Songbird five starts back in the Grade I, seven furlong Del Mar Debutante, My Dynamo will be making her seventh career start.

Source: Santa Anita Park