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Songbird wins Delaware Handicap for Porter

On paper, the 4-year-old filly could not lose. It was to be a coronation for a horse that was a nose from being 13-for-13.

STANTON, Del. — Songbird came to Delaware Park Saturday afternoon with a record that towered over her four opponents in the $750,000 Delaware Handicap. There was $2.1 million bet in the win, place and show pools, $2 million of it on Songbird, nearly $1.6 million of that on her to show.

On paper, the 4-year-old filly could not lose. It was to be a coronation for a horse that was a nose from being 13-for-13. Her owner Rick Porter left a Massachusetts hospital on Thursday where he has been undergoing experimental cancer treatments to come home to Wilmington to see the best horse he's ever had win his state's biggest race.

When the very best horses are made to run to the limit for the first time, there is a price to pay. Songbird had never really been tested until she got in a stretch-long duel with Beholder last November at the Breeders' Cup. She lost by a nose, but actually gained even more respect.

The DelCap was not that kind of test, but it was much more serious than anybody could have imagined. Songbird, as expected, made an easy lead, almost too easy, perhaps as her jockey Mike Smith said after the race, she was going too slowly.

Songbird, off at 1-20, was chased around the track by 21-1 Martini Glass. While you kept waiting for Martini Glass to drop away as horses chasing Songbird typically do, she never stopped trying.

"I wasn't worried at the top of the stretch,'' Porter said. "I started to get a little worried at the eighth pole.''

Smith had to take his whip out in the stretch and smack Songbird several times in the final hundred yards. She held off Martini Glass to win by a length in 2:03.96 for the mile and a quarter. It was not the dazzling Songbird everybody is used to seeing, but winning is winning. The $450,000 first prize brought her career earnings to $4,562,000. She paid $2.10 across the board.

"I looked under my arm (and saw Martini Glass),'' Smith said.

Any doubt?

"I was going to ask her to run and if she didn't respond, there was going to be a whole lot of doubt,'' Smith said. "She responded and we were OK…These races aren't easy. These are the kind of races you get beat in, trust me.''

But Songbird is so good she can win at something less than her best.

"It's something we always wanted to win,'' said Porter who had the beaten favorite in his two other DelCap tries. "It's fantastic. We got a little scare there. She's only run twice (in 2017). It's hot for her. She's not used to this heat and all. She was sweating…and she never does. She got a little tired, but this will build a foundation.''

Songbird's trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has won 7,316 races, third all-time.

"I love them all from the lowest claimers to the biggest stakes winners like Songbird,'' he said.

Truth be told, Hollendorfer wanted to keep Songbird in Southern California and stay away from the humidity, but he brought her east for Porter.

"I was happy that I could win this race for Rick Porter,'' Hollendorfer said.

After six weeks of treatment for his lymphoma, Porter looked quite good, even after the race that was not at all the mismatch it appeared. Was there any doubt he was going to make the race?

"No, I was definitely planning on coming out,'' Porter said.

So, he did. And his filly ran when she had to. It was enough to get Porter his Delaware Handicap.