CHAMPION Songbird plucked another cheque and registered another win, taking the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel last Saturday at Santa Anita. Owned by Fox Hill Farm, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and ridden by Mike Smith, the daughter of Medaglia D’Oro skipped to the lead and once again never looked back, sauntering to a three and three-quarter length victory over eight overmatched rivals.

Smith actually had to do something this time, nudging her away from the gate and to the lead. He sat stone still – like turning on the tap and then taking a seat at the bar – from that point forward.

“High cruising speed, gears, well balanced,” Smith said, rattling off some of her weapons. “She’s bigger, mentally she’s so much stronger and sure of herself and so much more confident than last year. When she first started running she’d get a little nervous, a little hot and washy. For me, she’s put herself up there with some of the best, we’ve barely started her three-year-old year. I hope we can continue to grow and get better and see where it takes us.” So far, connections have sworn she won’t take them to the Kentucky Derby.