Just wondering what or if there is any comparison to the two? Shammy / LaurieB…
[QUOTE=Andrew;8861169]
Just wondering what or if there is any comparison to the two? Shammy / LaurieB…[/QUOTE]
I wouldn’t even know where to begin. Both exceptional racehorses, I see no comparable physical or running characteristics other than their courageous bottom and their winning record. Tentatively, if I were to compare Songbird to any others it would be Ruffian, Shuvee, Go for Wand, Genuine Risk, Rachel Alexandra, etc. Each could be rated but none of them liked to be headed or at least not very long. Zenyatta ran like a big diesel tractor with constant rpm and enormous stride. Not many horses could run that far off the pace and win that consistently.
I am not convinced that Songbird ’ s competition, only Distaff, have really tested her so maybe this is a question to ask at the end of 2017.
Yesterday after the Cotillion, the TVG guys were comparing Songbird to Rachael Alexandra with respect to the company RA had met by this time in her career compared to Songbird.
Almost for me, too early still to compare Songbird to some of the great mares of the past.
And, what exactly are you comparing as Shammy pointed out some of the differences. These mares’ biggest “comparison” was their ability to kick some serious *ss on the track 
Along with just never giving up. Songbird, IMO, has yet to really be tested. For me, even Landaluce even though she really never had a chance to show what she could do. 
Would be interested in others’ thoughts.
Thank you enjoying this insight!
Mike Smith has the mount. 
I’m very ho-hum about Songbird, and I think it’s because we’ve been spoiled. Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta, Havre de Grace, Beholder, Treme, Tepin, and more. We expect our fillies and mares not to just dominate each other, but to face and dominate the boys too, and they’ve proved time and time again they can compete on that playing field.
Songbird is clearly in a class alone in her bracket…but she’s playing in the AAA and it’s time to step up to the major leagues. Certainly if she wins the Distaff against the likes of Beholder that’s a big boon, but she’s going to have to face and beat the boys to be elevated to the company of the others I listed.
I think Songbird is more like Rachel than Zenyatta. Medaglia d’Oro has spoiled us with some really good 3yo fillies over the past seven years. I’m looking forward to her taking on the boys next year and possibly Beholder (assuming she sticks to the Distaff, not heads to the Classic) in November.
I don’t think it’s fair to Zenyatta or Rachel Alexandra to compare Songbird to them. Zenyatta didn’t start racing until 3, and didn’t win her first stake until 4. Rachel was beating the pants off the colts in her 3 year old year. Until Songbird faces older mares and males, there’s no reason to start comparing. Revisit this at the end of 2017.
Me, hard to limit the comparison of Songbird to just Zenyatta as there have been so many nice fillies in the past as well as current… Tepin, Beholder, Lady Aurelia (who didn’t win in her last race but was scoped and had bled)…
While I’d like to see Songbird up against stiffer company, I don’t know that I fault her connections for their strategy. If she runs in the Distaff she’ll most likely meet Beholder which will be a good test for both of them. Tepin won’t be in the Distaff or so I’d assume
[QUOTE=Where’sMyWhite;8866253]
While I’d like to see Songbird up against stiffer company, I don’t know that I fault her connections for their strategy. If she runs in the Distaff she’ll most likely meet Beholder which will be a good test for both of them. Tepin won’t be in the Distaff or so I’d assume :)[/QUOTE]
And to be fair to Songbird if she beats Beholder, that should carry more weight than her beating a weak male field (not talking about the Classic, just in general). Beholder is one of the best dirt horses in the country - male or female. I’d rather see Songbird face her than a field of Creator, Melatonin, Gun Runner, Stanford, ect (even Dortmund) because it will test her a lot more than those will.
If Tepin’s in the Distaff, someone had a brain fart that will be talked about for centuries since she’s a turf miler and should be able to beat anything Europe throws at her.
I would agree on Beholder but I want to see how she does this Saturday in the Zenyatta to see if she’s lost her mojo against the all-girl fields
Tepin, yeah… anything other than the turf mile and the echo would be about the same as that RNA at the last Keeneland sale
I think Beholder may have lost a step but for her, I think losing a step still has her above most horses. Her loss to Stellar Wind I can draw a line through because I think overconfidence played a part in that loss. The one against Chrome, there wasn’t really an excuse for her other than Chrome is a scary, scary beast. Haha
[QUOTE=gotpaints;8866451]
And to be fair to Songbird if she beats Beholder, that should carry more weight than her beating a weak male field (not talking about the Classic, just in general). Beholder is one of the best dirt horses in the country - male or female. I’d rather see Songbird face her than a field of Creator, Melatonin, Gun Runner, Stanford, ect (even Dortmund) because it will test her a lot more than those will.
If Tepin’s in the Distaff, someone had a brain fart that will be talked about for centuries since she’s a turf miler and should be able to beat anything Europe throws at her.[/QUOTE]
Wholeheartedly agree with this!! How great is it that we have such nice fillies/mares running right now that running in the Distaff is considered more of a test than running in the Classic And yes, I will think someone maybe got kicked in the head if Tepin ends up in the Distaff field 
Running in the Distaff is definitely not more of a test than running in the Classic. That’s just crazy talk. It will be great to have Songbird and Beholder race each other, but the Classic will be the tougher race.
[QUOTE=KentuckyFilly79;8868538]
Wholeheartedly agree with this!! How great is it that we have such nice fillies/mares running right now that running in the Distaff is considered more of a test than running in the Classic And yes, I will think someone maybe got kicked in the head if Tepin ends up in the Distaff field :p[/QUOTE]
We’ve been spoiled with fillies in the last 10 years. We’ve obviously had some really good males (Frankel, Chrome, Pharoah, ect ect) but it seems like every year we have a new superstar filly (Rachel, Zenyatta, Goldikova, Treve, Black Caviar, Winx, ect ect.) People talk about how racing is dying and isn’t the same as it was 75 years ago but we’re really in a golden age.
Will the Classic be tougher??? To me, depends on the field. Depending on how Chrome runs today, he might be the hands down favorite for the Classic.
If Beholder and Songbird are both in the Distaff, I think there may be more of a “race” if some of Songbird’s and Beholder’s opponents show up
But neither will be an easy race with a slam dunk winner… if anything those “awards” (for a slam dunk) might go to Tepin and Flintshire but I’m still not handing them the trophy until they cross that finish line in front
Not a comparison, but some worthy thoughts about Songbird.
And what I’d be curious about is the other fillies that she’s being compared against, were all their wins against only fillies or did some win against the colts?
Yes, Songbird is a very exceptional filly. She’s beaten nice fillies that could be G1 (or are) winners. She hasn’t yet run against the colts. How many of the fillies she’s being compared to (not this year’s crop) have run against colts and won?
To me it isn’t just about racing but also about the company they’re racing in
They are so different it’s hard to compare them! Almost like comparing a great hunter to a great jumper. Songbird is quick, agile, and puts herself in the race. Her wins look exceptionally easy. She would most likely outwork Zenyatta going 4 or 5 furlongs in the morning. Very much like a Rachel Alexandra, however if she is on par ability wise is all speculation because she has not won Grade 1’s against colts, let alone won a Triple Crown race. Or won the Oaks and Mother Goose by 20 lengths. Songbird is a like an awesome first year green horse. Winning everything, but who knows what would happen at Harrisburg if thrown into the Regular Working hunters against seasoned veterans. Zenyatta was the equivalent of an Olympic gold medalist that competed at the very top level. She won the Breeders Cup Classic almost 2 yrs in a row. Didn’t travel as much as Songbird - that is a plus for SB - but showed at Churchill Downs she could. Huge, slow to get going, huge finishing kick, just a totally different horse. Put Songbird in the BC Classic going 1 1/4 with a lot of pace and surrounded by colts and Zenyatta beats her. And for sure, comparing race records as of now, Zenyatta is in a totally different league. So is Rachel Alexandra.
[QUOTE=Andrew;8861169]
Just wondering what or if there is any comparison to the two? …[/QUOTE]
https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/articles/zenyatta-and-songbird-mike-smith-makes-comparison/
