Serena's Song

Serena's Song is featured in this weeks' shedrow because she is one of the most popular fillies of all time. Racing for Bob & Beverly Lewis, friendly, cheerful owners who delight in the accomplishments of their horses, Serena's Song first captured the hearts of America as a 2-year-old. The daughter of Rahy narrowly missed winning the 1994 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) to stablemate and champion Flanders. Already establishing her reputation for toughness, she followed that memorable stretch duel with a victory the following month in the Hollywood Starlet Stakes (gr. I). The iron lady of racing came out running as a 3-year-old in 1995.

After starting 13 times from January to October, twice beating the boys and winning nine graded stakes, she took home an Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old filly. Serena's Song gained fans with each victory for her indomitable nature and willingness to try. Whether she was racing in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) or on a sloppy track, she showed up all over the country under any circumstances and rarely threw in a poor performance. She was weighted on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap at 127 pounds, six pounds over any female rival, and one pound higher than Kentucky Derby winner Thunder Gulch. As a 4-year-old, she started 15 times. After an uncharacteristically weak run in the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I), finishing seventh against the top handicap males in the country, she ran the last dozen races of her career never finishing worse than third. In 38 career starts, Serena's Song won 18 times, with 11 seconds, and three thirds. She ran her entire career without Lasix and retired sound.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas guided Serena's Song to earnings of $3,283,388, setting a record for all-time money-earning female. Lukas called her "one of the great ones" and there were few who could dispute him. Bred in Kentucky by Dr. Howard Baker and purchased at the 1993 Keeneland July yearling sale for $150,000, Serena's Song turned out to be a bargain. The stalwart mare put smiles on the faces of all who came in contact with her.

In 1997 she was bred to Mr. Prospector, and recently produced a bay filly at Denali Stud. Now a broodmare, Serena's Song deserves to have her remarkable career remembered in pictures.