Songbird seeks win No. 6 in Santa Ysabel

Having successfully returned a winner in the February 6 Las Virgenes (G2) in her sophomore bow, undefeated champion Songbird will tackle nine rivals in the $100,000 Santa Ysabel (G3) at Santa Anita Park as she goes for a perfect six-for-six.

The field is made up of fillies Songbird has faced, and dominated, before. Land Over Seas has gone against the Medaglia d’Oro miss her past four races, finishing third in the Del Mar Debutante (G1), second in the Chandelier (G1), seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and second in the Las Virgenes. At no point did Land Over Sea ever threaten Songbird but she has proven to be best of the rest on couple of occasions.

Street Fancy captured the Starlet (G1) at Los Alamitos in mid-December but was no match for Songbird when 28 lengths back in last in the Las Virgenes most recently. Merirosvo also ran in the Las Virgenes, ending up fourth by 11 lengths while making her stakes bow. Jade Princess will be facing Songbird for the third time after finishing fifth in their prior two meetings in the Chandelier and Las Virgenes.

My Dynamo was beaten 22 lengths by Songbird when ninth in the Del Mar Debutante last year and enters the Santa Ysabel off a runner-up finish in the California Oaks. Code Warrior will be meeting the champion for the first time on Saturday but the duel stakes victress could do no better than fourth in the California Oaks last out following a half-length second sprinting in the Santa Ynez (G2).

Not Now Carolyn makes her stakes bow in this spot after breaking her maiden by 1 1/2 lengths on January 28. Both Pageant Material and Mokat have each taken on stakes rivals over the turf, with the former running ninth in the Sweet Life S. and Mokat just missing by a half-length in the Jimmy Durante (G3). The duo will be returning to the main track in this event.

Songbird photo courtesy of Benoit Photos