Bird Song Sold to Stand in Saudi Arabia

Multiple graded stakes winner Bird Song has been purchased to continue his stud career in Saudi Arabia in a deal brokered by Chad Schumer, Schumer Bloodstock announced Sept. 29. The 7-year-old son of Unbridled's Song previously stood at Gainesway Farm in Kentucky. His oldest crop are yearlings of 2020. Trained by Ian Wilkes on behalf of owner/breeder Marylou Whitney Stables, Bird Song won the Alysheba Stakes Presented by Big Fish Casino (G2) at Churchill Downs during his 4-year-old season—defeating Honorable Duty, Noble Bird, and American Freedom in wire-to-wire fashion—and the Fred W. Hooper Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park, which was another front-running performance. He also placed in that season's Hal's Hope Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream and the Ben Ali Stakes (G3) at Keeneland. While racing from ages 3-4 he compiled a 5-2-1 record from 14 starts and earned $512,707. Bird Song boasts a pedigree out of the top drawer as a son of Whitney's champion 3-year-old filly and Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine Bird Town. In turn, that daughter of Cape Town is a half sister to Birdstone, winner of the Belmont Stakes (G1), Travers Stakes (G1), and Champagne Stakes (G1). Birdstone, who stands at Gainesway, sired the respective 2009 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes winners Mine That Bird and Summer Bird, the latter of which was named champion 3-year-old colt after also winning the Shadwell Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1).