Songbird sings winning tune in G1 Del Mar Debutante
Songbird put away Pretty N Cool with just over a furlong to run and pulled away to an impressive victory in the G1 Del Mar Debutante Sept. 5. It was the first G1 win for the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, who remains undefeated in two career starts.
Breaking alertly in the seven-furlong contest, Songbird settled just off the pace set by Pretty N Cool. Rounding the far turn, the two fillies raced in tandem, with Songbird finally shaking off her rival to pull away through the stretch to win easily.
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 having a banner year in 2015, leading all sires with 20 black-type winners this year including G1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap winner Mshawish and G2 winners Gold Medal Dancer, Sentiero Italia, and Mrs McDougal. The sire's top runners lifetime include Horse Of The Year Rachel Alexandra, G1 Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty, and G1-winning turf specialist Marketing Mix.