Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Songbird to face small field
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Two-time Eclipse Award champion Songbird on Tuesday was scheduled to arrive at Saratoga, where on Saturday she is expected to face four rivals in the Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign Stakes on the Travers card.
On Sunday at Del Mar, Songbird completed her preparations for the Personal Ensign by working four furlongs in 47.20 seconds.
“She just does everything nice and easy,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. “She galloped out well, looked real good.”
Songbird is returning to the track where last summer she won the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks and Grade 1 Alabama in dominant fashion, elevating her stardom.
“We did well there last year,” Hollendorfer said. “Saratoga is never an easy spot to get to, but we’re looking forward to try and win another race there.”
Among her four opponents is expected to be Forever Unbridled, winner of the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Handicap on June 17 in her lone start this year. Forever Unbridled finished 1 1/4 lengths behind Songbird last year when the two were second and third behind Beholder in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
“It’s going to be a great race,” said Dallas Stewart, trainer of Forever Unbridled. “Only one horse in the world that has ever beat Songbird. Our filly’s done well, she’s been healthy, and she’s good, too.”
Expected to round out the Personal Ensign field are Eskenformoney, Flora Dora, and Going for Broke, who scratched out of last Sunday’s Summer Colony Stakes.
By the Moon tries again
Though By the Moon is already a Grade 1 winner, her connections would like nothing more than to get a Grade 1 victory at Saratoga. Considering how well the mare has run in Grade 1 stakes here, it would seem like she is due one.
At age 2, By the Moon was second in the Spinaway, albeit beaten 13 1/4 lengths by the slop monster Condo Commando. At 3, By the Moon finished third in the Test, and last year she was second in the Ballerina.
On Saturday, By the Moon will try again in the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina, where she will take on her former stablemate Paulassilverlining, Curlin’s Approval, and Carina Mia in the seven-furlong race.
On Monday, By the Moon worked five furlongs in 1:02.62 over the Oklahoma training track, getting her final quarter in 24.96 seconds.
“She’s been doing good, been happy up here. Looks like she’s ready to go back over again,” trainer Michelle Nevin said.
By the Moon is coming off a third-place finish to Paulassilverlining in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss at six furlongs, a distance that might be shorter than her best.
Also working Monday for the Ballerina was Highway Star, who went a half-mile in 51.02 over the Oklahoma track in what was basically a maintenance drill, according to trainer Rodrigo Ubillo. Highway Star has not run since finishing third, beaten 3 1/2 lengths by Songbird, in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont.
Others expected for the Ballerina are Dearest and Distinta.
Sadler’s Joy in Sword Dancer
Trainer Tom Albertrani doesn’t typically use a jockey to work his horses, but on Monday, Julien Leparoux put Sadler’s Joy through a five-furlong work in 1:01.88 over the Saratoga main track. Sadler’s Joy is pointing to Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Sword Dancer.
Albertrani said he has been shorthanded with help and that since Leparoux will ride the horse Saturday, he had him work the colt Monday. Leparoux won the Grade 2 Pan American on Sadler’s Joy in April at Gulfstream.
“I thought he worked really well this morning, quickened up down the lane and galloped out nice,” Albertrani said. Leparoux “was pretty happy with the horse.”
Sadler’s Joy recorded his first career victory here last summer and most recently finished third, beaten a halflength by Hunter O’Riley, in the Grade 2 Bowling Green. Hunter O’Riley and Bowling Green runner-up Bigger Picture are expected for the Sword Dancer, along with Money Multiplier, Frank Conversation, and the European shippers Erupt and Idaho. In other stakes Saturday: ◗ American Anthem, winner of the Grade 2 Woody Stephens; the undefeated Coal Front; and Practical Joke head the expected field for the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (formerly the King’s Bishop) for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs.
Others expected to run include Ann Arbor Eddie, Excitations, No Dozing, Takaful, Tale of Silence, and Wild Shot.
◗ Drefong, last year’s King’s Bishop winner, will be on the same flight as his Bob Bafferttrained stablemate American Anthem as he is scheduled to head the field in the Grade 1, $600,000 Forego. The defending Eclipse Award-winning sprinter should face a field that includes Awesome Slew, Divining Rod, Mind Your Biscuits, Ross, Tale of S’avall, Tom’s Ready, Tommy Macho, and Very Very Stella. Bird Song and Stallwalkin’ Dude are possible.
Limousine Liberal will skip the Forego in favor of the Grade 2 Phoenix on Oct. 6 at Keeneland, trainer Ben Colebrook said Monday.
◗ Trainer Chad Brown is expected to run just Antonoe and Roca Rojo in the Grade 2, $400,000 Ballston Spa Stakes. He said that after the way Lady Eli worked Sunday in company with Antonoe, he was tempted to run her as well but is likely to wait until the Grade 1 Flower Bowl on Oct. 8 at Belmont Park. Fourstar Crook, another Brown trainee, could be cross-entered in the Ballston Spa and Friday’s Yaddo.
Others expected for the Ballston Spa are Dickinson, Time and Motion, and possibly On Leave and Harmonize.