Songbird Set for Alabama Assault
- Laura Pugh
- Aug 17, 2016
- 2 min read
Songbird will attempt to stretch her unblemished record to 10 for 10 when enters the gates for the Aug 20th Alabama Stakes (GI).
The Alabama Stakes will mark her second consecutive start at Saratoga, the Graveyard of Champions. It will also mark the first time the Jerry Hollendorfer trainee has ever run the classic distance of one and one quarter miles. However, according to The BloodHorse Hollendorfer isn’t the least bit worried about the distance.
"Based on appearances and looking at her record on paper you'd have to think that she wouldn't have any trouble getting a mile-and-a-quarter," said Hollendorfer. "I firmly believe that if we had decided to run in the Delaware Handicap on the 15th (of July) instead of coming here and running in the Coaching Club American Oaks, we were fully prepared to go a mile and a quarter.
I feel like an extra eighth of a mile should be right up her alley.”
Songbird will face no more than six other opponents in the Alabama, but on paper none of the competition seems a match for her.
Weep No More won the Ashland Stakes (GI) earlier this spring, but has failed to duplicate that effort in subsequent races. Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII) winner Go Maggie Go has displayed a world of talent on occasion, but has not shown the same brilliance against the best in her division.
Dark Nile enters the race as the most consistent, behind Songbird. She comes into the Alabama off of a four race winning streak that includes wins in Delaware Parks Our Mims Stakes and the Delaware Park Oaks (GIII). To continue her winning streak through the Alabama she will need to take a major step up, as this will be the toughest field she’s faced to date.
Songbird towers over this field, and by the looks of things, she should have a relatively easy time earning her 10th career victory.
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