Ashland Results Further Galvanize Songbird's Superiority

With graded stakes winners Carina Mia, Rachel's Valentina and Cathryn Sophia slugging it out in a five-horse field, the Ashland looked like a race that could produce a horse talented enough to knock off Songbird at Churchill Downs, but instead the result did little more than reaffirm Songbird's invincibility against three year-old fillies. 41/1 shot Weep No More launched an improbable stretch bid in the Ashland to overhaul a struggling Rachel's Valentina who was the better of the rubber-legged Cathryn Sophia and Carina Mia. Weep No More's move was visually impressive, but likely flattered by inglorious stretch bids by the top three betting choices.

Back to one turn for Cathryn Sophia

If the Ashland tells the betting public anything useful, it's that the previously unbeaten Cathryn Sophia is a sprinter - something further validated when the connections hinted her next start might be the seven furlong Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs on the Oaks undercard. Cathryn Sophia was the only filly with Beyer Speed Figures in the same league as Songbird's, but alas, the distance proved to be her undoing. Around the same time Cathryn Sophia was being dropped from the list of Oak's contenders Songbird was once again proving her brilliance, thrashing a badly outmatched Santa Anita Oaks field over a sloppy track.

Chalk likely prevails 

Perhaps Carina Mia and Rachel's Valentina deserve a second shot as both fillies were making their first start since the fall, but it's a fairly safe bet that neither will improve enough to give Songbird a legitimate scare in the Kentucky Oaks barring an unforeseen poor effort from the champ. Bettors enjoy the prospect of betting the heavy favorite on the big day, but it looks fruitless to venture a stab against Songbird in the Kentucky Oaks on May 6 if trainer Jerry Hollendorfer can keep her anywhere close to her current form.