Champions Songbird, Stellar Wind work for upcoming June engagements

Edited Press Release

Champions Songbird and Stellar Wind each worked over Santa Anita’s fast main track Sunday morning for upcoming stakes engagements at The Great Race Place.

Unbeaten and untested Songbird, champion two-year-old filly of 2015, worked four furlongs in :46.40, breezing, in preparation for the $200,000 Summertime Oaks (G2) sending three-year-old fillies 1 1/16 miles on June 18.

The dark bay daughter of Medaglia d’Oro galloped out five furlongs in :59.20.

“She did it easy,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. “She’s doing fine. If she comes out of it good and everything’s OK, she’ll continue on.”

Songbird was recording her first work since taking the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) on April 9. The filly was originally scheduled to contest the May 6 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs, but exited her Santa Anita Oaks romp with a low-grade fever.

Owner Rick Porter tweeted out April 17 Songbird would not make the Kentucky Oaks after being started on a course of antibiotics to combat the fever. The Summertime Oaks was announced as her next goal.

Stellar Wind, Eclipse Award winner as last year’s champion three-year-old filly, went six furlongs in company under regular rider Victor Espinoza for John Sadler in 1:13.60, while stablemate Too Fast to Pass was clocked in 1:14.40.

“Too Fast to Pass was a length in front of me,” Espinoza said. “This is the second time I worked Stellar Wind since she’s come back. She looks great and she galloped out strong (seven furlongs in 1:26.40). So far, so good.”

Stellar Wind has not been seen in competition since missing by a neck in the October 30 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), just returning to the worktab in early April.

The chestnut daughter of Curlin is expected to make her first start back in the $400,000 Vanity Mile (G1) at Santa Anita Park on June 4, where she would likely face multiple Eclipse Award winner Beholder.

Songbird photo courtesy of Jamie Newell/Horsephotos.com
Stellar Wind photo courtesy of Lauren J. Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com