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Perfect Ten For Champion Filly Songbird

Champion filly Songbird had no trouble stretching out to 10 furlongs for the first time as she extended her unbeaten record to 10 wins in the G1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga.

The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro waltzed to a clear lead under Mike Smith and was never challenged to win by seven lengths from Going For Broke, who earned a G1 placing in her first stakes start.

With Saturday's win, Songbird has won her 10 races by a combined 54.75 lengths.

After a 5.25 lengths win in her New York debut last month in the G1 Coaching Club American Oaks Songbird was sent off as the 1-5 favorite in the field of seven fillies.

Last year’s champion 2YO filly now boasts six G1 wins including last year’s Del Mar Debutante, Chandelier Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Smith, who has been aboard for all 10 of Songbird's wins, secured his first Alabama win since guiding Jostle to victory in 2000.

Smith boasts five Alabama wins overall, with the other three coming in the 1990s.

Her trainer Jerry Hollendorfer picked up his second Alabama victory, his first since sending out Blind Luck in 2010.

"I was just happy to see her out there and rating nicely, Mike looked pretty confident on her," Hollendorfer said.

"I thought she would run well down the lane and she did.

“She makes it looks easy but it's not easy. I just take every race as it comes up and do my best and she does her best.

"This win was real gratifying. First time going a mile-and-quarter and you always think you can do it but you never know until you actually do it.”

Hollendorfer said Songbird's next start could be the G1 Cotillion for fillies on September 24 at Parx Racing.
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