Racing for the first time on an off track, Songbird once again turned in a dominating performance to win the G1 Santa Anita Oaks.
Breaking alertly under jockey Mike Smith, the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro went to the lead and never relinquished it as she cruised home to win by four lengths. Songbird improved her record to a perfect seven-for-seven, and will go to the G1 Kentucky Oaks as the overwhelming favorite.
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 was the sire of 29 Stakes winners in 2015 including G1 Golden Slipper winner Vancouver and Mshawish, winner of the G1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap. So far in 2016, Medaglia d’Oro has sired Graded Stakes winners Mshawish, winner of the G1 Donn Handicap; Astern, winner of both the G2 Silver Slipper and G3 Kindergarten Stakes in Australia; and Go Around, winner of the Tampa Turf Classic earlier Saturday afternoon.
