'Bird' Breaks From Rail, but Will it Matter?

While the talented trio of Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss), Rachel's Valentina (Bernardini) and Carina Mia (Malibu Moon) square off in an exciting renewal of the GI Central Bank Ashland S. at Keeneland Saturday, fellow 'TDN Rising Star' and divisional leader Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) will have what may very well amount to another public workout in the GI Santa Anita Oaks. Last year's champion juvenile filly has won her two starts this year with laughable ease, and was further flattered when Land Over Sea (Bellamy Road)–second to her in the GIII Santa Ynez S. Mar. 5–shipped out of town to take the GII Fair Grounds Oaks by daylight. Songbird will have to break from the rail, and faces two fresh faces among her six rivals, but the knocks–which are admittedly minor–stop there. Bellamentary (Bellamy Road), one of the aforementioned new challengers to Songbird, checked in second to subsequent stakes winner Lucky Folie (Distorted Humor) first out at Del Mar Sept. 6. She went one better when stretched to a mile here Oct. 1, and overcame a bobble at the break to duel and draw off to a very handy score over seven local panels Mar. 18. Second that day was the rallying Kay Kay (Pleasantly Perfect), who bested a next-out winner when unveiled by Mary Lightner at Gulfstream last June. The chestnut is now trained by Vladimir Cerin.