Las Virgenes is Songbird's to Lose

Las Virgenes is Songbird's to Lose

Category : News - Sat 06/02/2016 - 12:19 EST

The Grade 2, $300,000 Las Virgenes February 6 at Santa Anita is all about Songbird relegating her six rivals to a more interesting and competitive contest for second.

Just how dominant is the three year-old Queen? In a four race tour de force in 2015, Songbird never trailed at any point, and no horse ever got closer than four and a quarter lengths of the superstar trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro is already a three-time grade 1 winner with consecutive romps in the Del Mar Debutante, Chandelier, and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Each of those tallies came at different racetracks with Songbird earning progressively higher Beyer Speed Figures of 85,90 and 99. She has worked exceptionally well for her return including a six furlong move from the gate in 1:11 and change on January 20 at Santa Anita. Hollendorfer connects at a solid 15% clip with runners returning from 61-180 day layoffs. Regular rider Mike Smith will be in the irons breaking from post 5. 

Street Fancy on the improve

Street Fancy (6/1) overcame early trouble December 12 to win the Grade 1 Starlet while making her first start around two turns. While she earned just a 74 Beyer Speed Figure for the triumph, Street Fancy is clearly improving and could take another step forward in her three year-old debut. Trainer Phil D'Amato hits at an impressive 20% with 31-60 day comebackers, and the filly's last two works indicate she's ready to fire. 

Land Over Sea tries favorite again

Land Over Sea (8/1) has back class, but has lost to Songbird in each of her last three races, including a disappointing Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies where the Doug O'Neill trainee finished 13 1/2 lengths back of the winner while finishing seventh. Look for a better effort from Land Over Sea who is another logical candidate to hit the board. 

 

 

Category : News

Leave a comment

More articles...
News - 31/10/24

Breeders' Cup Classic: Forever Young can be first winner from Japan

Breeders' Cup Classic: Forever Young can be first winner from Japan

The best two-turn dirt horses on Earth will clash Saturday, November 2 in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar! The 1 ¼-mile dirt race features such […]

Read this article
News - 22/08/24

Travers Stakes 2024: Thorpedo Anna can take Saratoga feature

Travers Stakes 2024: Thorpedo Anna can take Saratoga feature

The summer meet at Saratoga Race Course is the most eagerly awaited of the year in New York, and the Spa reaches its crescendo Saturday, August 24 with the Grade […]

Read this article
News - 04/07/24

Belmont Derby 2024: Trikari can win prestigious New York turf race

Belmont Derby 2024: Trikari can win prestigious New York turf race

The Belmont Derby (G1) on Saturday, July 6 is the most eagerly awaited race of the three-year-old turf racing season. The race offers a purse of $750,000, and it perennially […]

Read this article
News - 06/06/24

Belmont Stakes 2024: Mystik Dan can recreate Kentucky Derby magic

Belmont Stakes 2024: Mystik Dan can recreate Kentucky Derby magic

The most important race of the year on the New York racing calendar happens Saturday, June 8: the Belmont Stakes. A few things have changed since last year about the […]

Read this article