Jerry Hollendorfer, winning trainer of Songbird (No. 1): "We thought we were going to get tested and we thought [jockey] Julien [Leparoux] would send [Carina Mia] at us early, which he did. We got a chance to test our filly and she dug in. Great race from [trainer] Billy [Mott]'s filly, too."
"We came here because we thought these two races here would fit into our program if we could do it. We had a good trip over and got lucky and prevailed, so we're very pleased to win the race."
"I'm not superstitious. I was trying to think positive. This is a very difficult place to win races, and that's because there are great horses and great trainers here."
Mike Smith, winning jockey aboard Songbird (No. 1): "): "I asked her more than I've ever had to. I take my hat off to Carina Mia, she made her run a little bit. But once I got going, I was comfortable. This is a tough place to just step into town - especially when you're coming from the west coast, the humidity factor is what it is; the air is so much thicker here. It gets to me as a rider, so I can't imagine a horse."
On the challenge from Carina Mia: "Songbird's got a big, beautiful stride. I didn't panic. The more [Carina Mia] got on top of her, the more it made her aggressive. I got after her a couple times right then, and that was pretty much it. I was surprised at how at the end she was actually pulling away again. But I knew at some point that Carina Mia was going to give me a serious test, an acid test, and she did - she made her do something she never had to do before. We'll see what happens. A lot of times, a true champion, this will move them up. This was the first time someone got inside of her gut. A lot of times it'll really move them up, and if that happens, oh my. If this race moves her up like I think it will, there's no telling how good this filly is."
On where she ranks among the great fillies and mares he has ridden: "She was already in my top five and she just climbed up about two more notches. She's very young yet, she has a lot left to do. She's so special, but I don't want to stop and think about it because it scares me. I don't want to let up. I want to keep my nose
to the grindstone. We've got a job to do."
Rick Porter, winning owner of Songbird (No. 1): "This is where we needed to go. I love Saratoga No. 1, and No. 2, we needed to face the best fillies in the country. All time, this ranks second behind Hard Spun's win in the [2007] King's Bishop. But it was the best to watch!"
Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) Quotes
December 10, 2019
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