COTILLION STAKES

(GRADE 1)

“IF you chase, you’re just going to die. If you let her go, you can’t catch her.”

And in those 17 words, John Servis summed up the greatness of undefeated Songbird.

The Parx-based conditioner had just thrown Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia at Songbird in the $1 million Cotillion Stakes at Parx last Saturday.

“I thought I could beat Songbird today,” Servis said. “But, she’s a champion. I give her all the credit.”

Songbird romped to her 11th victory on her 11th start, toying with Carina Mia (who chased) and Cathryn Sophia (who let her go). Owned by Fox Hill Farm and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Songbird stalked Carina Mia, rolled past her like a house on the side of the road and sauntered to a five and three-quarter-length win over Carina Mia, who pasted six and three-quarter lengths on Cathryn Sophia. Mike Smith was aboard for the $610,000 stroll.

“It’s beyond words, at least beyond my vocabulary,” Smith said. “She just speaks for herself. To see her do what she does, it’s astonishing. She’s so fluid, especially today. And she’s beating top-quality fillies. They’re solid, Grade 1 fillies those two. Without Songbird, they win a Grade 1 every time.”

As always when it comes to Songbird, the questions about taking on the boys were hot on reporters’ minds and fans’ lips. Hollendorfer and owner Rick Porter silenced them yet again, knowing that a clash with elders Beholder and Stellar Wind will be enough of a challenge in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

“Even if she did win the Classic it’s not going to add anything to her value anymore than what the Distaff would do. If Rick wants to run her next year then he can try some other things. We’re trying to think in the smartest way in handling this filly,” Hollendorfer said. “You come to a point in the road where you have to meet the big ones and there are a couple of big ones out there in Beholder and Stellar Wind. Those horses can really run and our horse can really run so we’d like to try those and I think that’s good competition if we all get there.”

In the spring, Porter dismissed talk of the Kentucky Derby and he’s dismissing any talk of the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

“Jerry and I haven’t disagreed on much of anything along the way,” Porter said. “I’m just a huge fan like everyone else. You get a little nervous every time, thinking something’s going to happen, but Jerry’s done such a great job along with everyone in his barn. Just to watch her is a privilege, whether it’s your horse or not your horse. It’s a lot better when it is your horse.”