Marylou Whitney Stables' homebred Pretty Birdie (Bird Song) became the first winner for her expatriated sire (by Unbridled's Song) with a good-looking box-to-wire tally on Churchill debut Friday afternoon.
Taking good pari-mutuel action as a 43-10 chance, the gray filly hit the ground running and clicked off an opening couple of furlongs in :22.16. Traveling well within the grasp of Joe Talamo for the run around the turn, Pretty Birdie was ridden hands and heels into the final eighth of a mile and was kept to her task to score by 3 3/4 lengths. Penny Saver (Super Saver), backed into 2-1 from a 6-1 morning line, rallied from fourth to be second ahead of the regally bred Speedometer (Tapit), who checked into the turn and raced greenly in the lane.
Pretty Birdie is also the first starter for Bird Song, a son of GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Bird Town (Cape Town), who posted one of his two career graded victories in the 2017 GII Alysheba S. beneath the Twin Spires. Bird Song stood early days at Gainesway before being sold to continue his stud career in Saudi Arabia last fall. Bird Song's 2-year-olds were well-received at public auction this spring, with a pair reaching six-figure pricetags.
Bird Sense, a two-time winner at the races, is a half-sister to GSP Bird Maker (Empire Maker) and foaled a full-brother to Pretty Birdie Jan. 21.
2nd-Churchill Downs, $99,058, Msw, 6-18, 2yo, f, 5f, :57.28, ft, 3 3/4 lengths.
PRETTY BIRDIE (f, 2, Bird Song–Bird Sense, by Street Sense) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $57,488. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Marylou Whitney Stables (Hendrickson); B-Marylou Whitney Stables LLC (KY); T-Norm W Casse.
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