Songbird (USA)
Foaled April 30, 2013 – Living
Medaglia d'Oro (USA) x Ivanavinalot (USA), by West Acre (USA)
Family 4-d
Foaled April 30, 2013 – Living
Medaglia d'Oro (USA) x Ivanavinalot (USA), by West Acre (USA)
Family 4-d
While the American crop of classic colts of 2016 took turns at the top of the heap until Arrogate put all the others in their places toward the end of the season, there was never any question about who was queen in the sophomore filly division. Continuing the dominance she had displayed as a juvenile, Songbird simply outclassed everything she faced until she locked horns with three-time Eclipse champion Beholder in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Distaff (USA-G1). After a pulsating stretch duel in which neither contender asked nor gave quarter, Songbird suffered her first defeat by the tip of Beholder's flaring nostril but covered herself with glory nonetheless. She returned to training as a 4-year-old but made only three starts in 2017 before being officially retired on September 1, 2017, due to bone bruising.
Race record
15 starts, 13 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$4,692,000
2015:
2016:
2017:
Honors
Assessments
Highweighted among juvenile fillies at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American juveniles of 2015, five pounds above second-rated Catch a Glimpse and Rachel's Valentina.
Rated at 122 pounds on the 2016 World's Best Racehorse Rankings for her performances in the Alabama Stakes and Cotillion Stakes, 12 pounds below overall highweight Arrogate (the American champion 3-year-old male and winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic, USA-G1) but tops among 3-year-old fillies on dirt.
Rated at 118 pounds in all three of her 2017 races on the 2017 World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 16 pounds below overall highweight Arrogate and 14 pounds below the top-rated mare, the great Australian distaffer Winx.
As an individual
A good-sized dark bay or brown filly, Songbird is well-balanced, athletic and light on her feet with a fluid stride in spite of not having ideal forelegs. She typically ran close to the pace or on it and proved herself unflinchingly game and determined during the 2016 Breeders' Cup Distaff (USA-G1). Those close to her state that she is highly intelligent and has an excellent temperament.
As a producer
Songbird has yet to be represented by a runner on the track. She is the dam of the 2019 Arrogate filly Song Gate, the 2020 Tapit filly Magical Song, a 2021 Tapit filly, and a 2022 Curlin colt.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Songbird was bred by John Antonelli. She is owned by Rick Porter, who bought the filly for US$400,000 from the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale. She raced in the name of Porter's Fox Hill Farms. She was trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. Following her racing career, she was sold for US$9.5 million to Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton November sale.
Pedigree notes
Songbird is inbred 4x5 to the epochal sire Northern Dancer, an American and Canadian champion during his own racing days. She is a half sister to Wide Range (by Mineshaft), dam of Grade 2-placed multiple listed stakes winner Mico Margarita (by Run Away and Hide).
Songbird was produced from Grade 2-placed listed stakes winner Ivanavinalot, a daughter of the unraced Forty Niner horse West Acre and a half sister to multiple stakes winner Shananie's Beat (by Shananie) and stakes winner Slick Lady (by Unreal Zeal). Ivanavinalot is also a half sister to stakes-placed Beaties for Real (by Unreal Zeal), dam of Grade 3 winners Friel's for Real and Ryan's for Real and listed stakes winner Little Thunder (all by Sword Dance) as well as listed stakes winner Onepointhreekarats (by Medaglia d'Oro). Another half sister to Ivinavinalot, Judy's Turn to Fly (by Regal Search) is the dam of stakes winner West Coast Flier (by West Acre).
Beaty Sark (by Deputy Minister), the dam of Ivanavinalot and her siblings, never raced but is a half sister to Grade 2-placed listed stakes winner Crafty Dude (by Crafty Prospector) and multiple stakes winner That Lady (by Trust a Native). She is also a half sister to stakes-placed Crafty Belle (by Crafty Prospector), dam of multiple stakes winner Ode to Elaine (by Bertrando). Beaty Sark, in turn, is out of unraced Torsion Belle (by Torsion), whose stakes-placed full sister Miss Flower Belle is the dam of 1989 Derby Italiano (ITY-G1) winner Prorutori (by Providential) and whose half sister Freedom Flower (by Raise a Man) is the dam of Australian Group 3 winner Stormy Regent (by Archregent).
Books and media
Footage of Songbird's victory in the 2017 Ogden Phipps Handicap can be viewed on her page at the Breeders' Cup Hall of Champions (https://www.breederscup.com/history-tradition/hall-champions/songbird-1).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton November sale. Used by permission.
Last updated: June 17, 2022
Race record
15 starts, 13 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$4,692,000
2015:
- Won 14 hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
- Won Chandelier Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Del Mar Debutante Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Del Mar)
2016:
- Won Alabama Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Cotillion Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Parx Racing)
- Won Las Virgenes Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Summertime Oaks (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Santa Ysabel Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Distaff (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
2017:
- Won Ogden Phipps Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Belmont)
- Won Delaware Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Delaware Park)
- 2nd Personal Ensign Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
Honors
- Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old filly (2015)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (2016)
- Eclipse Award finalist, American Horse of the Year (2016)
- Eclipse Award finalist, American champion older female (2017)
- Kentucky-bred champion 3-year-old filly (2016)
Assessments
Highweighted among juvenile fillies at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American juveniles of 2015, five pounds above second-rated Catch a Glimpse and Rachel's Valentina.
Rated at 122 pounds on the 2016 World's Best Racehorse Rankings for her performances in the Alabama Stakes and Cotillion Stakes, 12 pounds below overall highweight Arrogate (the American champion 3-year-old male and winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic, USA-G1) but tops among 3-year-old fillies on dirt.
Rated at 118 pounds in all three of her 2017 races on the 2017 World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 16 pounds below overall highweight Arrogate and 14 pounds below the top-rated mare, the great Australian distaffer Winx.
As an individual
A good-sized dark bay or brown filly, Songbird is well-balanced, athletic and light on her feet with a fluid stride in spite of not having ideal forelegs. She typically ran close to the pace or on it and proved herself unflinchingly game and determined during the 2016 Breeders' Cup Distaff (USA-G1). Those close to her state that she is highly intelligent and has an excellent temperament.
As a producer
Songbird has yet to be represented by a runner on the track. She is the dam of the 2019 Arrogate filly Song Gate, the 2020 Tapit filly Magical Song, a 2021 Tapit filly, and a 2022 Curlin colt.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Songbird was bred by John Antonelli. She is owned by Rick Porter, who bought the filly for US$400,000 from the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale. She raced in the name of Porter's Fox Hill Farms. She was trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. Following her racing career, she was sold for US$9.5 million to Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton November sale.
Pedigree notes
Songbird is inbred 4x5 to the epochal sire Northern Dancer, an American and Canadian champion during his own racing days. She is a half sister to Wide Range (by Mineshaft), dam of Grade 2-placed multiple listed stakes winner Mico Margarita (by Run Away and Hide).
Songbird was produced from Grade 2-placed listed stakes winner Ivanavinalot, a daughter of the unraced Forty Niner horse West Acre and a half sister to multiple stakes winner Shananie's Beat (by Shananie) and stakes winner Slick Lady (by Unreal Zeal). Ivanavinalot is also a half sister to stakes-placed Beaties for Real (by Unreal Zeal), dam of Grade 3 winners Friel's for Real and Ryan's for Real and listed stakes winner Little Thunder (all by Sword Dance) as well as listed stakes winner Onepointhreekarats (by Medaglia d'Oro). Another half sister to Ivinavinalot, Judy's Turn to Fly (by Regal Search) is the dam of stakes winner West Coast Flier (by West Acre).
Beaty Sark (by Deputy Minister), the dam of Ivanavinalot and her siblings, never raced but is a half sister to Grade 2-placed listed stakes winner Crafty Dude (by Crafty Prospector) and multiple stakes winner That Lady (by Trust a Native). She is also a half sister to stakes-placed Crafty Belle (by Crafty Prospector), dam of multiple stakes winner Ode to Elaine (by Bertrando). Beaty Sark, in turn, is out of unraced Torsion Belle (by Torsion), whose stakes-placed full sister Miss Flower Belle is the dam of 1989 Derby Italiano (ITY-G1) winner Prorutori (by Providential) and whose half sister Freedom Flower (by Raise a Man) is the dam of Australian Group 3 winner Stormy Regent (by Archregent).
Books and media
Footage of Songbird's victory in the 2017 Ogden Phipps Handicap can be viewed on her page at the Breeders' Cup Hall of Champions (https://www.breederscup.com/history-tradition/hall-champions/songbird-1).
Fun facts
- Songbird was named in honor of the late singer Eva Cassidy, a favorite of her owner's.
- Songbird's Experimental Free Handicap rating of 125 pounds was the highest given to a juvenile filly since Countess Diana in 1997.
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton November sale. Used by permission.
Last updated: June 17, 2022