Rick Porter has owned several terrific fillies and mares in his more than two decades in the Thoroughbred business, but the native of Wilmington has not yet tasted victory in his state’s biggest race, the $750,000 Delaware H. (G1). There’s a very strong probability that will change Saturday afternoon when Songbird, the dual champion and arguably the best horse ever to race in Porter’s red and white colors, takes to the track for the historic 1 1/4-mile test.
Porter, who has been battling cancer and other ailments in recent years, is expected to be on hand to watch Songbird, who was installed the 1-5 morning line favorite in the field of six but could go off 1-20. From 13 career starts the four-year-old has won 12, the only setback being a nose loss to Beholder in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). She made her first start since that race in the June 10 Ogden Phipps (G1) at Belmont Park, winning by a length in one of her more hard-fought successes.
Porter came close to winning the Delaware H. once before, in 2011, when Havre de Grace lost by a nose to arch-rival Blind Luck. Havre de Grace was later named Horse of the Year while Blind Luck’s trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer, himself a two-time Del ‘Cap winner, has been the guiding force behind Songbird’s near flawless record.
“I have run at Delaware before in a few races and I have been real fortunate in that most my horses have gotten over the racetrack,” said Hollendorfer, whose It Tiz Well captured last weekend’s Delaware Oaks (G3). “Songbird is training really well right now and we are hopeful she can come in there and have a good start.”
Mike Smith, Songbird’s regular pilot, will be back aboard the filly on Saturday as she travels 10 furlongs for the second time in her career. Her largest margin of victory to date, seven lengths, occurred in the 10-furlong Alabama (G1) last August.
Although worthy of an impost of 130 pounds or higher given the competition, Songbird will tote only 124 on Saturday while giving nine to 14 pounds to her challengers. Looking to pull a massive upset are recent $100,000 Obeah runner-up Martini Glass; 2016 Ashland (G1) winner Weep No More, who has been unplaced in five interim starts; stakes winner Miss Mo Kelly; and Line of Best Fit, who has won five of her last six in optional claiming company. Hone In completes the lineup.
The $150,000 second prize or $82,500 third prize will look good in the bank account, and a Grade 1-placing on a catalog page will look even better for the connections of the five fillies and mares that have to face Songbird, who most hope will put on a sterling exhibition for Porter in front of the hometown crowd.
The supporting feature on Saturday is the $200,000 Kent (G3), a 1 1/8-mile grass test which attracted seven three-year-olds. Frostmourne, who rallied from mid-pack to win the June 3 Penn Mile (G2) by 1 1/4 lengths for trainer Christophe Clement, figures to be a solid favorite in a field that also includes recent $50,000 Stanton winner and Group 2-placed Master Plan.
