Serena's Song
Encyclopedia
Serena’s Song is an American
Thoroughbred
race horse. She won 17 graded stakes races, including 11 Grade I
(some against males and older mares), in three seasons for $3,286,388 in earnings.
She was by Rahy
out of Imagining by Northfields (by Northern Dancer
). Serena's Song was bred in Kentucky
by Dr. Howard J. Baker. She was a small filly
, so small that few looked her way at her yearling auction. All, that is, but Hall of Fame
trainer D. Wayne Lukas
. Lukas saw an athlete in her, a way of moving that hinted at her greatness to come. He bought her at auction for $150,000 for Eclipse of Merit
owners Robert and Beverly Lewis.
, she gave the undefeated champion Flanders the run of her life, losing by only a head. In the Grade I
Hollywood Starlet Stakes
, she dueled again with the very good Urbane. This time she won.
Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
. That race was run on May 19, 1995 over a mile and one eighth at Pimlico Race Course
. In the race itself she beat a stellar field of seven stakes winners including Conquistadoress and Rare Opportunity.
Serena's Song also beat males that year in the Jim Beam Stakes and the Haskell Invitational Handicap
. She conquered older females in the Beldame Stakes
. That year, she brought home the American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly award, winning $1,524.920.
now called the Allaire duPont Distaff Stakes
on the Preakness Stakes
undercard. She came very close to winning the Whitney Handicap
and was second in the Breeders' Cup Distaff
. That year, due to the quality of her races and her consistentl finishes, she brought home $1,164,133.
, as a broodmare, where she has proved more than useful. So far she has produced 12 foals, six of which have raced and five of which have won. Among her offspring are these named horses:
Serena’s Song was inducted into the Hall of Fame
in 2002, still only ten years old.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
race horse. She won 17 graded stakes races, including 11 Grade I
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
(some against males and older mares), in three seasons for $3,286,388 in earnings.
She was by Rahy
Rahy
Rahy was an Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in England and the United States. Bred by Hill 'n' Dale Farms in Lexington, he was a son of the very important sire Blushing Groom and out of the Eclipse Award winner and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame mare, Glorious Song.Rahy was purchased as a...
out of Imagining by Northfields (by Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and the most successful sire of the 20th Century. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association calls him "one of the most influential sires in Thoroughbred history"....
). Serena's Song was bred in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
by Dr. Howard J. Baker. She was a small filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
, so small that few looked her way at her yearling auction. All, that is, but Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
trainer D. Wayne Lukas
D. Wayne Lukas
Darrell Wayne Lukas is a former educator who became one of the most successful horse trainers in American Thoroughbred horse racing history and a U.S...
. Lukas saw an athlete in her, a way of moving that hinted at her greatness to come. He bought her at auction for $150,000 for Eclipse of Merit
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
owners Robert and Beverly Lewis.
Two year-old season
In her two-year-old season, Serena's Song, small but tough and always healthy, started 10 times and won four races. She also finished second twice and third once while compiling earnings of $597,335. In the Breeders' Cup Juvenile FilliesBreeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies is a 1 1/16-mile thoroughbred horse race on dirt for two-year-old fillies run annually since 1984 at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships.-Automatic Berths:Beginning in 2007, the Breeders' Cup...
, she gave the undefeated champion Flanders the run of her life, losing by only a head. In the Grade I
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
Hollywood Starlet Stakes
Hollywood Starlet Stakes
The Hollywood Starlet Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old fillies run each December at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. Currently offering a purse of $400,000, the Grade I event, it was raced on dirt until 2006 when the new synthetic Cushion Track was...
, she dueled again with the very good Urbane. This time she won.
Three year-old season
When she turned three, Serena’s Song came of age. In 13 starts, she won 9. One of her top performances was in the defacto second jewel of the filly triple crown, the $200,000 Grade IIGraded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The race is open to three-year-old fillies willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt and currently offers a purse of $250,000...
. That race was run on May 19, 1995 over a mile and one eighth at Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
. In the race itself she beat a stellar field of seven stakes winners including Conquistadoress and Rare Opportunity.
Serena's Song also beat males that year in the Jim Beam Stakes and the Haskell Invitational Handicap
Haskell Invitational Handicap
The Resorts Casino & Hotel Haskell Invitational is an American Grade I race for thoroughbred horses. In 1968, the Board of Directors of Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey honored its former President and Chairman Amory L. Haskell with the Amory L. Haskell Handicap, a race for older...
. She conquered older females in the Beldame Stakes
Beldame Stakes
The Beldame Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares three-years-old and up. Inaugurated in 1939, it was run as a handicap prior to 1960...
. That year, she brought home the American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly award, winning $1,524.920.
Four year-old season
In 1996, when she was four, she started 15 times, winning 5 times, placing in 7 races, and coming in third twice. She ran over eight tracks and never finished worse than third. In May she returned to the scene of one of her triumphs when she shipped to Baltimore and won the grade two Pimlico DistaffAllaire duPont Distaff Stakes
The Allaire DuPont Distaff is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. A Grade II event run in mid May, it is open to fillies and mares age three and older...
now called the Allaire duPont Distaff Stakes
Allaire duPont Distaff Stakes
The Allaire DuPont Distaff is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. A Grade II event run in mid May, it is open to fillies and mares age three and older...
on the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
undercard. She came very close to winning the Whitney Handicap
Whitney Handicap
The Whitney Handicap is an American Grade 1 handicap race for Thoroughbred racehorses three years of age and older run at a distance of 1⅛ miles. In 2007, the Breeders' Cup Ltd...
and was second in the Breeders' Cup Distaff
Breeders' Cup Distaff
The Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, 3 years old and up. Known as the Breeders' Cup Distaff from its inception in 1984 through 2007, it is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders'...
. That year, due to the quality of her races and her consistentl finishes, she brought home $1,164,133.
Foals
Serena’s Song was sent to Denali Stud near Paris, KentuckyParis, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,183 people, 3,857 households, and 2,487 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.23% White, 12.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16%...
, as a broodmare, where she has proved more than useful. So far she has produced 12 foals, six of which have raced and five of which have won. Among her offspring are these named horses:
- Sophisticat (by Storm CatStorm CatStorm Cat was an American Thoroughbred stallion whose breeding fee during the peak of his stud career was $500,000, the highest in the world. As such, he was one of the few horses with a 24-hour armed guard....
), - Serena’s Tune, 1998, (by Mr. ProspectorMr. ProspectorMr. Prospector was a thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Kentucky, whose descendants have been dominant in the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. He won half of his 14 career races.-Background:...
), - Arbitrate by Deputy Minister, stakes-placed.
- Grand Reward (by Storm Cat), won grade II race in the US, placed in four group races in England and Ireland, over $500,000, at stud.
- Harlington, 2002 by Unbridled
- Pure Symmetry, 2003, by Storm Cat, placed
- Colourful Score, 2004, by Storm Cat
- Spark Candle, rig, 2005, by A.P. Indy
- Schramsberg, 2006, by Storm Cat: Unraced.
- Stormberg (colt), 2008, by Storm Cat
- Night and Day (filly), 2009, by Unbridled's Song
- filly, 2010, by Street Cry
Serena’s Song was inducted into the Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
in 2002, still only ten years old.
Tabulated pedigree
External links
- "Champions, The Lives, Times, and Past Performances of America's Greatest Thoroughbreds, Revised Edition, Champions from 1893-2004," the Daily Racing FormDaily Racing FormThe Daily Racing Form is a tabloid newspaper founded in 1894 in Chicago, Illinois by Frank Brunell. The paper publishes the past performances of race horses as a statistical service for bettors on horse racing in the United States....
- Serena’s Song’s pedigree, racing stats, and photo
- Serena’s Song in the Hall of Fame