Champion Songbird kept her perfect record intact with a powerful performance in the G1 Coaching Club American Oaks July 24.
Racing for the first time at Saratoga – known as the “Graveyard of Champions” - the three-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro broke alertly and soon was in front. She was tracked closely by the talented Carina Mia, winner of the G1 Acorn Stakes in her previous start.
As the fillies entered the backstretch, Songbird continued to lead the way, with Carina Mia only a length behind her in second. Those two fillies had opened up six lengths on the rest of the field.
Entering the far turn, Carina Mia put in her challenge, ranging up alongside Songbird. The fillies battled stride for stride into the stretch, before jockey Mike Smith asked Songbird for a bit more and the filly responded, pulling away in the stretch to win by five-and-one-quarter lengths.
Bred in Kentucky by John Antonelli, Songbird was purchased for $400,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale by Fox Hill Farm. Songbird is out of Ivanavinalot, who captured the G2 Bonnie Miss and was second in the G2 Davona Dale as a three-year-old.
Medaglia d'Oro is experiencing yet another outstanding year in 2016 having sired 12 blacktype winners so far. In addition to Songbird, Medaglia d’Oro’s son Mshawish has illustrated his sire’s versatility by capturing the G1 Donn Handicap on the dirt after having won the G1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap last year. Medaglia d’Oro’s worldwide influence is exemplified by the likes of Vancouver, a G1 winner in Australia last year, in addition to five additional Group winners in Australia in 2016.
