A filly made of pure hickory, Serena's Song never backed down from an encounter with any horse, male or female. Gifted with speed, soundness, toughness and unflinching determination on the track, the only thing she lacked to be ranked among the greatest of the great was the stamina to stay more than 9 furlongs. She proved an excellent broodmare after her retirement to the paddocks.
Race record
38 starts, 18 wins, 11 seconds, 2 thirds, US$3,283,288
1994:
1995:
1996:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 122 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 1995, 2 pounds below champion Flanders but second overall.
As an individual
A well-balanced, athletic, strongly made bay mare with exceptionally powerful hindquarters, Serena's Song had a low-headed, highly efficient gait at racing speed. She was extremely competitive as a racehorse. She is on the small side but has a dominant attitude nonetheless; those who know her well describe her as having a mind of her own. She is fond of peppermints. As a broodmare, she was extremely protective of her newborn foals.
As a producer
Serena's Song has produced 12 named foals. All 12 have started and 10 have won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Serena's Song was bred by Dr. Howard Baker. She was owned by Robert and Beverly Lewis, who purchased her for US$150,000 at the 1993 Keeneland July yearling sale. She was trained by D. Wayne Lukas. A resident at Denali Stud since her retirement, she was pensioned from broodmare duty in December 2014 after slipping what was slated to be her last foal in the fall of that year.
Pedigree notes
Serena's Song is inbred 5x4 to 1946 English champion 2-year-old male and 1947 Two Thousand Guineas winner Tudor Minstrel and 5x5 to two-time English champion sire Nearco and the important broodmare Almahmoud. She is a full sister to Serena's Sister, dam of Grade 2 winner Doubles Partner (by Rock Hard Ten) and stakes winner Stormy Venus (by Stormy Atlantic); second dam of 2019 Prix d'Ispahan (FR-G1) winner Zabeel Prince, multiple Australian Group 2 winner Puissance de Lune, and Peruvian Group 2 winner Don Americo; and third dam of English Group 3 winner Field of Gold. Serena's Song is a half sister to Grade 3 Vivid Imagination (by Raise a Man), second dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Fumino Imagine and Grade 3 winner Wander Mom, and to River Saint (by Irish River), dam of Turkish Group 2 winner Producer.
The dam of Serena's Song, Imagining, is a winning half sister to Grade 3 winner Alabama Nana (by Thatching) and stakes winner Toooverprime (by Red Alert). She is also a half sister to Be My Lady (by Be My Guest), dam of Group 2-placed stakes winner Mad Martigan (by Alleging), and to Storm o' Fire (by Storm Bird), second dam of five stakes winners including 2006 Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup (USA-G1) winner Vacare, French Group 3 winner Abtaal, and Grade 3 winner Single Solution. Imagining is out of the Dancer's Image mare Image Intensifier, dam of multiple stakes winners Jets Pat (by Jet Pilot), Gaelic Dancer (by Native Dancer) and Cabrini Green (by King's Bishop).
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Denali Stud in 2015. Used by permission.
Last updated: September 1, 2024
Race record
38 starts, 18 wins, 11 seconds, 2 thirds, US$3,283,288
1994:
- Won Oak Leaf Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Hollywood Starlet Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- Won Landaluce Stakes (USA-G3, 6FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes (USA-G2, 6FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd Sorrento Stakes (USA-G2, 6.5FD, Del Mar)
1995:
- Won Haskell Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Monmouth)
- Won Beldame Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Santa Anita Oaks (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Las Virgenes Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Gazelle Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Jim Beam Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Turfway Park)
- Won Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Pimlico)
- Won Santa Ynez Breeders' Cup Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Turfway Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Turfway Park)
1996:
- Won Hempstead Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Belmont)
- Won Santa Maria Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Pimlico Distaff Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Pimlico)
- Won Santa Monica Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Santa Anita
- Won Fleur de Lis Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Distaff (CAN-G1, 9FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Beldame Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Whitney Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Ruffian Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Vanity Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Churchill Downs Distaff Handicap (USA-G2, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Louisville Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Apple Blossom Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Oaklawn Park)
- 3rd Philip H. Iselin Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Monmouth)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2002)
- Arcadia Historical Society's Racing Walk of Champions (inducted as part of the inaugural class in 2014)
- Monmouth Park Hall of Champions
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (1995)
- Kentucky-bred Horse of the Year (1995)
- Kentucky-bred champion 3-year-old filly (1995)
- Kentucky-bred champion handicap female (1996)
Assessments
Rated at 122 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 1995, 2 pounds below champion Flanders but second overall.
As an individual
A well-balanced, athletic, strongly made bay mare with exceptionally powerful hindquarters, Serena's Song had a low-headed, highly efficient gait at racing speed. She was extremely competitive as a racehorse. She is on the small side but has a dominant attitude nonetheless; those who know her well describe her as having a mind of her own. She is fond of peppermints. As a broodmare, she was extremely protective of her newborn foals.
As a producer
Serena's Song has produced 12 named foals. All 12 have started and 10 have won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Serena's Tune (1998, by Mr. Prospector) won three listed races. She is the dam of multiple Irish Group 3 winner Vocalised (by Vindication) and of stakes winner Serena's Cat (by Storm Cat). Serena's Cat, in turn, is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Honor Code (by A.P. Indy) and Grade 2 winner Noble Tune (by Unbridled's Song).
- Sophisticat (1999, by Storm Cat) won the 2002 Coronation Stakes (ENG-G1). She is the dam of Grade 3-placed French stakes winner Sefroua (by Kingmambo), in turn the dam of Group 3-placed French stakes winner Sivoliere (by Sea the Stars).
- Grand Reward (2001, by Storm Cat) won the 2005 Oaklawn Handicap (USA-G2). After standing in Kentucky and Pennsylvania, he permanently relocated to Haras La Quebrada in Argentina.
- Harlington (2002, by Unbridled) won the 2006 Gulfstream Park Handicap (USA-G2). After standing in Kentucky and Florida, he was exported to Saudi Arabia after the 2014 Northern Hemisphere breeding season.
- Schramsberg (2006, by Storm Cat) won the 2011 John B. Connally Turf Cup Handicap (USA-G3). He entered stud in 2012 at Bar None Ranches in Alberta, Canada. In 2019, he moved to an Alberta farm owned by Alison Clapton.
- Serene Melody (2010, by Street Cry) won the 2016 Wintergreen Stakes at Turfway Park. She is the dam of 2023 Golden Gate Handicap (USA-G3) winner War At Sea (by War Front).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Serena's Song was bred by Dr. Howard Baker. She was owned by Robert and Beverly Lewis, who purchased her for US$150,000 at the 1993 Keeneland July yearling sale. She was trained by D. Wayne Lukas. A resident at Denali Stud since her retirement, she was pensioned from broodmare duty in December 2014 after slipping what was slated to be her last foal in the fall of that year.
Pedigree notes
Serena's Song is inbred 5x4 to 1946 English champion 2-year-old male and 1947 Two Thousand Guineas winner Tudor Minstrel and 5x5 to two-time English champion sire Nearco and the important broodmare Almahmoud. She is a full sister to Serena's Sister, dam of Grade 2 winner Doubles Partner (by Rock Hard Ten) and stakes winner Stormy Venus (by Stormy Atlantic); second dam of 2019 Prix d'Ispahan (FR-G1) winner Zabeel Prince, multiple Australian Group 2 winner Puissance de Lune, and Peruvian Group 2 winner Don Americo; and third dam of English Group 3 winner Field of Gold. Serena's Song is a half sister to Grade 3 Vivid Imagination (by Raise a Man), second dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Fumino Imagine and Grade 3 winner Wander Mom, and to River Saint (by Irish River), dam of Turkish Group 2 winner Producer.
The dam of Serena's Song, Imagining, is a winning half sister to Grade 3 winner Alabama Nana (by Thatching) and stakes winner Toooverprime (by Red Alert). She is also a half sister to Be My Lady (by Be My Guest), dam of Group 2-placed stakes winner Mad Martigan (by Alleging), and to Storm o' Fire (by Storm Bird), second dam of five stakes winners including 2006 Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup (USA-G1) winner Vacare, French Group 3 winner Abtaal, and Grade 3 winner Single Solution. Imagining is out of the Dancer's Image mare Image Intensifier, dam of multiple stakes winners Jets Pat (by Jet Pilot), Gaelic Dancer (by Native Dancer) and Cabrini Green (by King's Bishop).
Books and media
- A Thoroughbred Daily News video tribute to Serena's Song can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QeL3_6WDiY.
- Footage of several of Serena’s Song’s races can be viewed accessed within Jay Hovdey’s August 28, 2024, column on Serena’s Song at Thoroughbred Racing Commentary (https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/articles/6356/serenas-song-elegance-grace-kelly-moves-ginger-rogers-and-charisma-marilyn-monroe-d-wayne-lukas/).
Fun facts
- Serena's Song was the first filly to win the Haskell Invitational (USA-G1). The only other filly to have won the race is 2009 American Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, who accomplished the feat during her championship season.
- At the time of her retirement, Serena's Song was the leading money-winning filly or mare based in North America.
- Serena's Song raced without furosemide (Lasix) throughout her career.
- During Serena's Song's racing career, the Lewises gave a portion of her earnings to support Serena's Song, a hot-air balloon specially designed to accommodate disabled children and adults. The balloon was not named for the filly but for Serena Waldman, who suffers from cerebral palsy. After seeing how his daughter responded to a hot-air balloon flight at the age of 2, her father, Gary Waldman, worked with balloonist Phil Gray to create a balloon that could provide similar experiences for disabled people at shows across the country.
- The Serena's Song Stakes was a stakes at Monmouth for fillies and mares 3 years old and older. It was last contested in 2019.
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Denali Stud in 2015. Used by permission.
Last updated: September 1, 2024