It isn't too often that 1-9 odds are an overlay, but that was clearly the case when Songbird faced off against five overmatched rivals in the Las Virgenes Stakes (USA-II) earlier today. None of the other fillies started at less than 10-1, and that was an overly generous assessment of their chances.
In fairness to Street Fancy, who started at those 10-1 odds, she clearly wasn't the same filly who showed a nice closing kick to win the Starlet Stakes (USA-I) back on December 12. But then again, Songbird wasn't the same filly who won the 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-I) in her last outing. The problem for her rivals was that the Songbird who showed up for the Las Virgenes was even better.
Granted, her final time of 1:36.84 wasn't particularly impressive unless you look at this race as a paid workout, which essentially it was. By the time Songbird crossed the wire, she was down to a mere hand gallop. The only interest in the race from a competitive standpoint was the contest for the minor awards, which Land Over Sea won.
The ease and visual impressiveness of Songbird's victory will doubtless raise some questions about Rick Porter's decision to keep his star filly in her own division this spring. That kind of clamor may be a bit premature; she hasn't faced anything in the apparent class of Nyquist or Mohaymen yet. On the other hand, her splits after the first quarter were all faster than those the colts posted in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (USA-III) one race earlier on the card, which certainly suggests she'd be competitive with the boys. For now, her fans will just have to be content with watching her do her thing against other fillies on the path to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-I)---and barring accident or injury to Songbird, those other fillies will be running for second money wherever and whenever she shows up.
In fairness to Street Fancy, who started at those 10-1 odds, she clearly wasn't the same filly who showed a nice closing kick to win the Starlet Stakes (USA-I) back on December 12. But then again, Songbird wasn't the same filly who won the 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-I) in her last outing. The problem for her rivals was that the Songbird who showed up for the Las Virgenes was even better.
Granted, her final time of 1:36.84 wasn't particularly impressive unless you look at this race as a paid workout, which essentially it was. By the time Songbird crossed the wire, she was down to a mere hand gallop. The only interest in the race from a competitive standpoint was the contest for the minor awards, which Land Over Sea won.
The ease and visual impressiveness of Songbird's victory will doubtless raise some questions about Rick Porter's decision to keep his star filly in her own division this spring. That kind of clamor may be a bit premature; she hasn't faced anything in the apparent class of Nyquist or Mohaymen yet. On the other hand, her splits after the first quarter were all faster than those the colts posted in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (USA-III) one race earlier on the card, which certainly suggests she'd be competitive with the boys. For now, her fans will just have to be content with watching her do her thing against other fillies on the path to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-I)---and barring accident or injury to Songbird, those other fillies will be running for second money wherever and whenever she shows up.
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