Songbird out of the Kentucky Oaks

Songbird and Mike Smith before the Santa Anita Oaks.

Just over a week after she scored an easy victory in the Santa Anita Oaks, Songbird’s connections announced that the star filly has a fever and will have to skip the Kentucky Oaks.

The 3-year-old star “developed a low-grade fever after the SA Oaks and has not been able to go out to the track,” according to an announcement posted on Fox Hill Farm’s Facebook page.

“With the fever not resolved, she was started on a course of antibiotics today, and as a result, it’ll be another 7 to 10 days before she’s able to return to the track,” according to the announcement. “We are sorry to have to miss the Oaks, but what’s most important is to get Songbird well, and we have two great vets along with (trainer) Jerry (Hollendorfer) and his team taking good care of her.”

Songbird — the Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old for 2015 – would likely have been a big favorite for the May 6 race for fillies.

The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro and Ivanavinalot remained undefeated April 9, winning her seventh race April 9 in the Santa Anita Oaks.

Songbird’s owner, Rick Porter, said then that he was appreciating his good fortune watching a horse “time after time perform unasked to do what she’s been doing.”

“I’m just so fortunate to have a horse like this,” Porter said after the Santa Anita Oaks.