Following the New York Racing Association's offer Wednesday to raise the purse of the GI Coaching Club American Oaks from $300,000 to $500,000 if Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) enters, owner Rick Porter has officially committed his undefeated champion to run in the July 24 raceat Saratoga.
“We are 100% on going to the CCA Oaks,” Porter confirmed via phone Wednesday evening. “I got Jerry [Hollendorfer] to talk to [NYRA] and say, 'We really don't think the purse is fair and we might go to Delaware Park [for the GI Delaware H. against older females July 16].' [NYRA VP of Racing Operations Martin Panza] offered to increase it to $500,000 and give us a few days to see who enters at Delaware, but I told Jerry to call him back and just commit that we are going [to Saratoga] and he did.”
Songbird will remain at the Spa after the CCA Oaks to train up to the GI Alabama S. Aug. 20. If she comes out of those races well, the “TDN Rising Star” will then be pointed to Parx's $1-million GI Cotillion S. Sept. 24.
“We've arranged everything,” Porter said. “We are going to stay and have an assistant trainer and her regular exercise rider there. Jerry or [assistant] Dan [Ward] will come in for her works.”
Songbird most recently scored yet another dominant victory in Santa Anita's GII Summertime Oaks June 18.
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