Prior to her first-ever start on July 15th of 2015, owner Rick Porter thought he had a special filly in Songbird, a just-turned three-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro. Well, fast forward six months and his thoughts proved to be prophetic as she was the unanimous choice as Eclipse Champion two-year-old filly of 2015.
Undefeated in four starts last year, Songbird’s combined win total was 22 lengths with none of her competitors getting closer than four and one-half lengths at the finish. She won the G1 Del Mar Debutante in just her second start by six and one-half lengths, the G1 Chandelier by five and one-quarter lengths in her third and then the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies by four and one-half lengths in her fourth and final start of the year.
Songbird was bred in Kentucky by John Antonelli who resides in California. She’s out of G2 winner and Florida state champion juvenile filly Ivanavinalot. Porter purchased Songbird out of the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale for $400,000.
Future Darley stallion Nyquist boasts a short career equally as impressive as Songbird. He too won at first asking for owner J. Paul Reddam and then reeled off four consecutive Graded wins – three in G1 company - en route to being named the best two-year-old colt of 2015 in North America.
Following a win in the G2 Best Pal in just his second start, Nyquist won the G1 Del Mar Futurity, the G1 Front Runner and then the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after being bumped hard at the start and having to pass all but two runners to get the win.
Also a $400,000 sales purchase, Nyquist was acquired out of the Fasig-Tipton Florida sale of two-year-olds in 2015. He made his career debut a winning one just three months later, his first win in a five-race, undefeated juvenile season. Trainer Doug O’Neill commented, “From day one, before this horse ever debuted, he had the mind and the stride of a two-turn horse.”
Nyquist was bred in Kentucky by Summerhill Farm and is the first foal out of the winning Forestry mare Seeking Gabrielle, a half-sister to G1 producer Seeking the Sky.
Nyquist is slated to start in the G2 San Vicente Stakes on February 15th and just worked five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 at Santa Anita on January 17th.
