Songbird steals show at Parx
The filly turns in another dazzling day
The filly stole the show.
With another dazzling performance that kept her unbeaten record intact, Songbird was the star of Parx Racing’s biggest day of the year.
The Pennsylvania track offered the $1.25 million Pennsylvania Derby for 3-year-old males, and the $1 million Cotillion for 3-year-old females last Saturday.
With Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist and Preakness Stakes winner Exaggerator renewing their rivalry, the Derby looked like the key event on the card.
It was hoped they would return to top form and set themselves up for the Breeders’ Cup Classic later this fall.
But when the day was over, those two faltered badly, while Songbird did the seemingly impossible, taking her game to an even higher level.
Carina Mia, winner of the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes, tried to take the mile and one-sixteenth Cotillion from Songbird by grabbiing the lead at once from her inside post.
Cathryn Sophia, winner of the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and a romping winner of her local prep, hoped to spring the upset with a late rally in her first meeting with Songbird.
Songbird took over from Carina Mia entering the stretch turn and drew off to win by just under six lengths.
Cathryn Sophia could do no better than fourth with her rally.
Songbird is her own standard and there are no 3-year-old fillies left to make her take a deep breath.
She has won all 11 of her starts, seven of them Grade 1, and is a lock to repeat as champion filly of her crop.
We got to see her twice at Saratoga, where she captured the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama Stakes.
Songbird was purchased at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling sale for $400,000 in 2014, and has
now earned $3,372,000.
In contrast, the results of the Pennsylvania Derby threw a cloud over the 3-year-old male division.
It was won by Connect, who was coming off a sixthplace finish in the Travers Stakes, beaten nearly 22 lengths.
The consistent Gun Runner, third in the Travers, was second, with Wild About Deb third in the Pennsylvania Derby at 1 1/8 miles.
Nyquist, who was in a perfect stalking position for the first mile, tired to sixth.
Exaggerator, coming off a dull effort when 11th in the Travers, finished seventh and never threatened.
The Travers was won in an historic performance by Arrogate, who won by more than 13 lengths and set a new track record of 1:59 1/5 for 1 ¼ miles at the Spa.
Is he the nation’s sharpest sophomore at this point? Yes. Is he the most accomplished sophomore on the season? No, not even close. Arrogate won the Travers in his only stakes appearance to date, while Exaggerator has three Grade 1 wins, and Nyquist and Creator have two.
If he wins the Breeders’ Cup Classic over the awesome California Chrome, then Arrogate is a deserving champion.
But in my opinion, the best 3-year-old we have seen this year is Songbird.