Songbird returns a winner in Ogden Phipps

Songbird, unraced since suffering her first defeat in 12 career races when second to multiple champion Beholder in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), returned a winner with a reserved one-length victory in the $735,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1).

Songbird went right to the front under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith and led through fractions of :23.99 and :47.27 before yielding to Paid Up Subscriber up the rail through six furlongs in 1:11.25. However, the champion two- and three-year-old filly asserted her dominance and overtook her rival in the straight through a mile of 1:35.72 and a final time of 1:42.24 for the 1 1/16 miles on a track rated as fast.

“She jumps out of the gate extremely well, and I took her to the outside because if someone got brave and wanted to challenge her, I wanted to be to the outside,” Smith said. “She kept her position and got a little tired at the end, but she’s supposed to. I was glad someone kept her to task. The only thing I was worried about was someone closing on the outside, but I took a peak at the infield monitor and just hand rode from there.

“I’d have gotten busy on her if I needed to, but I didn’t need to.”

The ultimate goal for Rick Porter’s Medaglia d’Oro filly is the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, and Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said that will be a big consideration in planning her summer-fall schedule. He said races at Delaware Park and Saratoga Race Course are on the table.

“Any trainer who tells you he’s not anxious off a long layoff isn’t telling you the truth,” Hollendorfer said. “I was very relieved she responded. This was a great race off the layoff. I won’t say she’s at the top of her game, but she did well. Mike’s riding in the groove right now.”

Smith’s win aboard Songbird was his third victory on the day. The other two came for Bob Baffert, sweeping to the outside aboard West Coast in the Easy Goer and coming up the rail with Abel Tasman in the Acorn. Asked what he ate the night before, Smith said, “A lot of Italian food.”

The win pushes Songbird’s career earnings beyond $4-million with a record of 12 wins from 13 starts. Her connections had considered the Beholder Mile (G1) last week at Santa Anita but opted for the more lucrative Phipps.

“It was a unanimous decision to come here,” Hollendorfer said. “Mr. Porter likes to run in New York and for big purses. We’ll talk to him about her schedule the rest of the year.”

Beyond Paid Up Subscriber it was 2 ½ lengths back to Highway Star in third with Carina Mia in fourth. Songbird gave 2-8 pounds to her rivals, including six to the runner-up.