Woody Stephens Breeders' Cup S. (gr. II)
(gr. II , 7f ,)
SONGSTER
(BLK h,
123
lb) $150,000
Songandaprayer —Peppy Lapeau , by
French Deputy
B—Richard Giacopelli,
FL.;
O—Darley Stable;
T—Thomas Albertrani
Too Much Bling
(GR/RO h,
123
lb) $50,000
Rubiano —Rose Colored Lady , by
Formal Dinner
B—Destiny Farm LLC,
OH.;
O—Stonerside Stable and Blazing Meadows Farm LLC;
T—Bob Baffert
Noonmark
(DK B/ h,
115
lb) $25,000
Unbridled's Song —In the Storm , by
Storm Cat
B—John D. Murphy Sr.,
KY.;
O—Bolton, George, Corrigan, Joan and Beck, Antony;
T—Steven M. Asmussen
Margins: 2, ¾, nose. Others: Fabulous Strike 119($12,500) , Likely 123($7,500) , Doc Cheney 115($2,500) , Saint Daimon 119($2,500) . Winning Jockey, Edgar S. Prado.
June 10 turned out to be a pretty good day for trainer Tom Albertrani. In New York, Albertraini sent out Darley Stable’s Songster to win the seven-furlong Woody Stephens Breeders’ Cup Stakes (gr. II) and at Monmouth Park, the Albertrani-trained Malibu Moonshine won the $60,000 Point Given Stakes for Louis J. Smith.
Malibu Moonshine not only won, but set a track record, getting 11/2 miles in 2:31.54. That took nearly three seconds off the standard of 2:341/5 set by Chappys Joy in 1989.
Songster stepped up big time in quality following a 10-length blowout in the Hirsch Jacob Stakes (gr. III) on the Preakness undercard at Pimlico May 20. The son of Songandaprayer battled on the lead on the turn and down the lane before pulling away for a two length win over 6-5 favorite Too Much Bling.
“This last race, he was out there for exercise,” said winning rider Edgar Prado of Songster’s romp in Maryland. “Today, he showed a lot of courage. He keeps improving mentally. This is a beautiful horse that has a lot of talent.”
Songster broke his maiden at first asking Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park, winning a seven-furlong race by 11/4 lengths. He ran second to Exclusive Quality in his second start at the same distance March 4 at Gulfstream on same afternoon as the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II). Prior to the Hirsch Jacobs, Songster finished second, beaten nine lengths by Too Much Bling, in the Bay Shore Stakes (gr. III) April 8.
Albertrani said the colt will be pointed toward the seven-furlong King’s Bishop Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga.
The sleek, black colt was bred in Florida by Richard Giacopelli. Giacopelli is also the breeder of Whoopi Cat, winner of the Adirondack Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga in August of 2003.
Songster is one of two added-money winners—the other being Stolen Prayer—this year for Songandaprayer. The 8-year-old second-crop sire has four career stakes winners. Standing for $10,000 at the time of Songster’s conception, Songandaprayer is standing the 2006 season for $35,000 at Bobby Trussell and Johnny Jones III’s Walmac Farm near Lexington.—E.I.H.
