Second-guessing Songbird’s Kentucky Derby status perfectly fair game

A big story this spring has been if Songbird, the Eclipse champion 2-year-old filly, would consider a start in the Kentucky Derby against males.

It's a story if you're among the many in the media and social media that think it's a good idea for owner Rick Porter. Porter, meanwhile, has made it a nonstory by not nominating Songbird to the Triple Crown.

The comments that bother me are not the ones suggesting Porter consider the Kentucky Derby. That's just hot-stove league stuff. The kind of chat you hear on sports talk radio every day.

What bothers me is the criticism leveled at those who have the audacity to even suggest such an idea to Porter. How dare you to try to manage his filly when you have no skin in her future?

Well, wake up fans. It's called being a Monday morning quarterback. And the talk is good for the sport.

How often do you hear commentary of how owner Jerry Jones is managing the Dallas Cowboys? Of how Jim Buss is operating the Los Angeles Lakers.

Sports talk sparks more interest. You get to air out what you might do in someone else's shoes.

Now, the only Songbird vote that counts is that of her owner, Rick Porter. His long resume in the horse racing business is beyond reproach.

This is an owner who ran his filly Eight Belles in the 2008 Kentucky Derby. Saw her run a courageous second to Big Brown. Saw her crumple to the ground 200 yards past the finish line. She had suffered two broken front ankles and was euthanized on the racetrack. If he chooses to run Songbird in the Kentucky Oaks and stay in the Distaff Division, fine. There is an East Coast filly named Cathryn Sophia, who has won her three career starts in spectacular manner. She will be a short-priced chalk Saturday in the Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park. If Cathryn Sophia keeps developing, she may give Songbird all she wants in the Oaks at Churchill Downs. Her trainer, John Servis, is a good one who trained 2004 Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones. Many champion fillies and mares have at some point faced males. Songbird may join them one day, which would be exciting to see.

California Chrome update

2014 Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome won a handicap race Thursday at Meydan in Dubai. He went the 10 furlongs in 2:04.32. Jockey Victor Espinoza never asked for speed. The race is a prep for the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 26 at Meydan.

Santa Anita announcer update

David Fitzgerald, a United Kingdom commentator, including the Royal Ascot meetings, will call the races Saturday and Sunday at Santa Anita. This is his audition to replace Trevor Denman.

Sunland Derby

If I were a betting man, I would think the $800,000 Sunland Derby on March 20 is in serious scramble mode. The host track, Sunland Park, has been fighting a contagious equine herpes virus in which 72 horses are confirmed positive.

Sunland last raced Jan. 22 and will reopen Saturday. Until a state-mandated quarantine is lifted, horses cannot ship into or out of Sunland. The best runners in the Sunland Derby usually have been shippers.

Richard Eng's horse racing column is published Friday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He can be reached at rich_eng@hotmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick