*Whether she ran fast times or not, there's no denying Songbird's consistency. She retires win nine G1 victories. Hope all goes well for her in the future.*
A lil sad that Songbird lost & was only 2nd, but if some1 had 2 beat her, was glad it was a horse like Forever Unbridled.... I am a big fan & luv both of these mares!! Hopefully will be a good, interesting & safe BC Distaff.... Good run by Songbird!! Great spectacular run by Forever Unbridled!!!! So very glad that it came down to these 2 mares whom I both adore!!
I admittedly haven't been following Songbird as closely this season as I did last season, so I suppose I could've missed an injury of some sort I wasn't aware of in one of her races this season? But assuming she's still sound and healthy, the timing of the announcement of her retirement seems a bit odd to me with the Breeders Cup literally right around the corner. Especially if the retirement is based on her loss here in the Personal Ensign, which was only the second of her career, and the two times in her career that she was beaten wasn't like she was clipped by some long shot nag or anything. Just sayin......
GBeret83 ~ Songbird had been & was having bad leg & feet problems, she was retired 4 her own safety & health. It was an issue that would not get better while racing & possibly even get worse & NO race is worth a horse's life or well being....
Songbird won her last 2 races at Saratoga..the graveyard of champions makes no sense in her case sorry..She just got beat by a better horse..go watch the distaff and watch how fast Forever unbridled was closing in on beholder and songbird..Knew she would be better down the road..
Forever Unbridled was the Better Horse...Forever Unbridled has some issues in her career and some Bad Trips...But when she got her act together She as better than Songbird ever was
Songbird is still better than Stellar Wind because SW has won 4 races that don't mean much while Songbird won a big race at Belmont, a smaller race that was 10 Furlongs, and she almost won this big race. Forever Unbridled is now definitely in the top 5 while Songbird is probably around 10.
Stellar Wind is just as good this year if not better than last year. Blame the HORRIBLE break in the BC Distaff for finishing behind Songbird in that one. SW was a pretty bad gate horse last year but has improved greatly this year. Couple that with perhaps Songbird not maturing as expected and SW, Vale Dori and Forever Unbridled become immense competition for her.
Songbird is great, but still a tad overrated. She would have been mauled by Inside Information, Zenyatta, etc., and even an in-form Life At Ten or Unrivaled Belle would have given her everything she could handle.And Stellar Wind has beaten Vale Dori twice. Songbird would have a very hard time shaking loose from Vale Dori and, especially Stellar Wind at this point in time.
Mixy Bambi: She was never on the level of Paseana, Inside Information, Sightseek, Zenyatta, etc.She caught Beholder and Stellar Wind on a day when both ran slower than they are capable of running. Now I'd be very surprised if she could defeat an in-form Stellar Wind, Vale Dori, or even Abel Tasman. Nothing against the horse, but it is what it is.
