Keeneland Presents American Graded Stakes Standings: Taking Flight

Songbird made a victorious return to the races on Saturday when she cruised to a one-length victory in the G1 Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park.

Songbird's win moved her Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer into fifth on the American Graded Stakes Standings trainers list this week. Hollendorfer has saddled five individual graded stakes winners which have won a total of eight graded stakes. In addition to Songbird, Hollendorfer has sent out Unique Bella (G2 Santa Ynez, G2 Las Virgenes, G3 Santa Ysabel), Sircat Sally (G3 Providencia, G3 Senorita), It Tiz Well (G3 Honeybee), and G.G. Ryder (G3 All American).

Medaglia d'Oro, the sire of Songbird, also climbed up into the top five of the AGS sire list this week. The son of El Prado is now tied with Ghostzapper for fifth-place – each stallion has four individual graded stakes winners that have captured a total of six graded stakes wins. In addition to Songbird, Medaglia d'Oro is the sire of Dickinson (G1 Jenny Wiley, G3 Suwanee River, G3 Hillsborough), Ever So Clever (G3 Fantasy), and New Money Honey (G3 Wonder Again).

Songbird was one of five stakes winners – four of them graded – that jockey Mike Smith rode on Saturday. The Hall of Famer has 21 graded stakes wins to his credit, placing him in a tie for first with Javier Castellano on the AGS jockey list. Smith's graded stakes winners – in addition to Songbird – were Abel Tasman (G1 Acorn), Mor Spirit (G1 Met Mile), and American Anthem (G2 Woody Stephens).