Serena's Song - by Laura Ferguson

I remember racing out to the Churchill Downs paddock on a warm May afternoon. My friends, as usual, had run late, and I was anxious to get there in time to see a Rahy filly who was making her debut. I was bound to love her, just as I had fallen in love with a yearling photograph of her sire in the Thoroughbred Times several years earlier. The look of arrogance on that cantering chestnut had captivated me, and I eagerly followed his racing career, first in England, and then later in the United States, where he scored a brilliant victory in the Bel Air Handicap.

As I panted from my run from the parking lot, it was not too late, for there she was, circling the paddock. From Rahy's first crop, the filly was not chestnut, but bay, but she had that same fire in her eye and was reminiscent of him in size and attitude. Quickly, as the horses were about to leave the paddock, I snapped her picture. She pranced slightly heading out to the track. Serena's Song did not win that day, but she closed greenly with a rush, and I knew she would go on to better things. Little did I know thatshe would end up filling an entire scrapbook with her accomplishments.While small in stature, she was a giant in terms of heart and will to win. As one famous trainer once said, "In horse racing, it's not what we can see that counts, it's ultimately what we can't see that makes them great: it is the inside, the heart, and she had plenty of that."

She finally broke her maiden in her third start, winning by 10. It had taken a few starts to put everything together, but Serena's Song was starting to come into her own. She had plenty of opportunity to demonstrate her durability, as over the course of a busy summer, she won the Landaluce Stakes, finished second against colts in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship, third in the Sorrento Stakes and fourth in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes. The filly was crying for more distance, and when stretched out to 1 1/16 miles, she responded with a near three length win in the Oak Leaf Stakes. Returned to Churchill for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, she dueled down the stretch against stablemate Flanders, losing to that one by a head. For Flanders, it was a pyrrhic victory, as she broke down after the finish, and was retired. Serena's Song rebounded from that loss with a game nose victory in the Hollywood Starlet Stakes. She finished her juvenile campaign with a 10: 4-2-1 slate, but the best was yet to come.

At three, she reeled off four straight victories, the Santa Ynez, Las Virgenes, Santa Anita Oaks, and finally, the Jim Beam Stakes against males. Sent in the Kentucky Derby, she was used up on the lead and finished 16th. She returned in the Black Eyed Susan Stakes thirteen days later and showed no ill effects, winning by nine. She followed that up with a victory in the Mother Goose Stakes, but then was upset in the Coaching Club American Oaks. She then tackled the boys again and was the easiest kind of winner in the Haskell Invitational. She won the Gazelle and Beldame, with a second place in the Turfway Breeders' Cup sandwiched in between. In her finale, the long campaign and the wet track caught up with her, and she finished fifth. Named Champion 3 year old filly, Serena's Song had compiled a record of 13: 9-2-0.

After her difficult three year old campaign, Serena's Song was turned over to Jennifer Stewart, who eased into her four year old season with a pair of allowance victories. With those confidence boosters in hand, the Rahy filly was set to tackle some of the better fillies in training: Escena, who was making her four year old debut, and Jersey Girl, who had finished second in the Kentucky Oaks and Derby Trial. Others in the field included Banshee Breeze and My Flag. She defeated them all handily in the Vanity Handicap, then returned two weeks later to beat Escena and Banshee Breeze, with newcomer Inside Information finishing fourth.

The Breeders' Cup Distaff was only a week away, and while Serena' Song had shown an iron constitution throughout her career, she was a smallish filly. Her chief rival was newcomer Manistique, a tall and imposing three year old filly who had swept through her division like a whirlwind before dominating against older in the Ruffian Handicap. The public feverishly awaited the clash of these two queens, and for the first 1 1/16 miles, they were treated to a battle royale. Manistique and Serena's Song dueled from the start, furlong poles flashing by as neither gave an inch. Until… in a nightmare reminiscent of Go for Wand, Manistique broke down, her quick-thinking rider saving his charge's life, pulling her up just past the wire, her second place finish an afterthought, while Serena's Song galloped on to a hollow victory. Unbeaten in five straight starts, Serena's Song was awarded the Eclipse Award for Champion Older Mare that year in recognition of her accomplishments.

Some owners would have retired such a stellar mare to the breeding shed. However, Serena's Song clearly relished life on the track, and so the decision was made to bring her back for one more season. The schedule planned for the star filly was one designed to showcase her to her legions of fans and created some dream matchups along the way. The five year old picked up right where she left off, with an easy win over Banshee Breeze in the Santa Maria Handicap. From here on out, she would tackle the males in a trio of epic matchups.

The first was the Hollywood Gold Cup. Event of the Year, who had won last year's Kentucky Derby, Belmont and Breeders' Cup, and was unbeaten in two starts at four (the Strub and the Big 'Cap), was entered, as well as rival Skip Away, who had finished second in three straight stakes this season (the Donn, the Big 'Cap and the Pimlico Special) and four other top older horses in training. Event of the Year would spot his rival 5 pounds. Serena's Song broke alertly and was up among the leaders, while Event of the Year missed the start. That troubled beginning proved to be the difference, as a determined Serena's Song held off a flying Event of the Year by the slimmest of noses in a game victory. The little mare that could had given her all for the, arguably, most memorable win of her campaign.

Serena's Song was wheeled right back in the Pacific Classic, where Silver Charm, winner of the Donn and the Suburban Handicaps, and third to Event of the Year in the Santa Anita Handicap lay in wait. Even fillies of iron have limits, and this time, she couldn't quite manage the job handicapped by the combination of weight and short rest, and was second at the wire.

Once again, it was time for the Breeders' Cup. Manistique had recovered from her injury and had returned as strong as ever, dominating the filly races. Some fans clamored for a rematch. Perhaps haunted by shades of tragedy, the Rahy mare's connections declined. Instead, Serena's Song would be sent after a shot at immortality and entered the Breeders' Cup Classic.

A full field would compete that year, including Event of the Year, Kentucky Derby winner Battle Cry, Silver Charm, Skip Away, Free House, future handicap star Storm And Silence and six others. The race was run with much controversy when stakes winner Pulpit savaged Storm and Silence off the turn, but on the front end, Event of the Year was sweeping to the lead after running 4 wide for much of the race. Serena's Song made her move, but it wasn't quite enough, as she finished third behind that rival and Battle Cry. Manistique won the Eclipse Award that year, but Serena's Song earned her own respect and more for the toughness of her campaign. Serena's Song had clearly done everything asked of her and more, and while the feisty mare still loved the track, it was time. Just as she had done on the track, she dominated the other mares in the pasture, and passed along that same mental toughness to her offspring.

She was first sent to her old rival, Event of the Year, and the two superstars and rivals worked magic, as the resulting chestnut colt grew up to become Priceless Forever. The youngster lived up to his bloodlines, winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at two during perfect four for four campaign, then capturing the Triple Crown at three. In addition to his historic sweep, becoming only the second unbeaten Triple Crown winner (grandsire Seattle Slew was the first), he also won the Breeders' Cup Classic, with his only career loss in the Travers Stakes. Named horse of the year and champion 3yo colt that season, Priceless Forever has gone on to become a leading sire and broodmare sire. In his first crop, he sired millionaires Berly Forever, Cascade, Dreams Are Forever, Forever Risk and Priceless Premier, from 20 foals (now age 10), and three millionaires - Effortless Focus, Elusive Pegasus, and Gotham City from only 8 foals in his second crop. After being virtually ignored several years ago - he has only two five year olds, Priceless Forever has experienced a resurgence in demand, and his current crops have flourished. In his last three crops of racing age, he has sire five millionaires in Dreamit To Be Real, Hype, Loki Paradise, Mirror and Pennant, and trio of talented juvenile fillies in Cavanaugh Park, Classical Music and Varsity. His current fee is $150,000.

The following year, she returned to Event of the Year, and produced another colt, this time a bay named Rivalry, in recognition of the great rivalry between his parents. While not as brilliant as Priceless Forever, the colt was a star in his own right, winning the Champagne Stakes at age two, the Belmont Stakes, Santa Anita Derby and San Felipe Stakes at age three, and five of ten starts lifetime. After a successful start to his stud career, with millionaires El Rival Decade (who also won the Kentucky Derby), Contest, Accio Firebolt, Finite Incantatum and the hard-knocking Salute the Flag, it was cut short with his premature death at age nine. Rivalry sired only 45 foals from six crops.

Serena's Song's first filly was by Gentlemen. Serena Sleet was sold for $5,000,000 at one point in her career, and is currently owned by leading trainer Robin Tan. On the track, the filly was unbeaten in five starts at two, all of them stakes - the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Oak Leaf Stakes, Matron Stakes, Twin Spires Filly Division and Debutante Stakes. Her season was capped off with an Eclipse Award as champion 2yo filly. At three, she continued her winning ways in the San Ysabel and Lexington Stakes before finishing fifth in the Kentucky Oaks, at a distance that was just beyond her best and where she was injured. After that loss, she was kept to sprints, where she won the Kentucky Cup Sprint and then suffered a heart-breaking nose loss to Energy in Excess in the Breeders' Cup Sprint against elders. Serena Sleet was capable of blazing speed, which she could stretch out to 1 1/16 miles on class alone. Retired with a record of nine wins in ten starts, she became a blue chip broodmare in her own right, producing a pair of millionairesses in Serena Storm (by Oasis Bliksum, who in turn became the dam of sprint superstar and budding sire sensation Satelite), and Serena Sound (by Storm and Silence, who produced a two major winners by Symbol, and another pair by Loki Flame). Most of her foals have earned at least six figures, including 2yo Ankh (by Symbol), 3yo Chancre (by Rapid Bay), and other foals by Oasis Bliksem, Em's Always Busy, Battle Cry, Serena Speak, Serena Spirit and Serena Spy. She has a filly at her side by Out of Focus, named Snowflake.

Next came Serena Slew, a bay son of Seattle Slew, sire of Event of the Year. The bay colt evoked memories of his sire with his blazing speed. He went untested and unbeaten in his first three starts, including rocketing victories in the Bashford Manor Stakes, Tilt A Whirl Stakes and Breeders' Futurity. After battling a foot bruise, the colt was cleared to run in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. While the colt won by seven easy lengths, he broke down just after the finish. He earned the Eclipse Award for champion 2yo colt, and was retired to stud. He has sired 73 foals from nine crops to date. His best horse by far is the multi-millionaire Kleine Romanze, with his second best being the near-millionaire You Too Slew. His current stud fee is $25,000. That year, Serena's Song earned an Eclipse Award for Broodmare of the Year, as she was represented by Serena Slew, Serena Sleet (who had narrowly lost the Breeders' Cup Sprint) and Belmont winner Rivalry that season.

A trio of offspring were next to arrive on the scene in Serena Salute, Serena Saint, and Serena Sly.

Serena Salute was by Event of the Year, making him a full brother to Priceless Forever and Rivalry. However, Serena Salute did not develop as quickly as his other siblings. He did manage two wins from four starts at two, including the one mile Sapling Stakes, and finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. At three, he began his season with a win in the Arkansas Derby, then was fifth in the Kentucky Derby. After that, the colt was given time to grow into himself, and it was almost a year before he returned to the races. In an experiment, Serena Salute was shipped to Europe, where he easily won an allowance race easily on the lawn. Next came the Irish Champion Stakes, where he stormed home a winner against some of the best turf horses in training, earning more than $2 million for the win. His final start came in the Breeders' Cup Turf, where the extra quarter mile proved to be a bit too far, as the Serena Salute finished fourth. With five wins from nine starts, the colt retired to stud, where he has sired only 17 foals from six crops. His best foal to date has been the nearly $600k earner Tejano Salute, a half-brother to Tejano Causeway, and he currently for a $10,000 stud fee.

Serena Saint was by Arazi, which results in an interesting 2x3 cross to Blushing Groom and 3x4 cross to Northern Dancer. While talented and fast, the smallish filly had soundness issues, and started only once at two, winning a maiden race. At three, she reeled off three straight wins in the Soldier Girl, Bahamas and Serena Sleet Stakes, the latter named for her half-sister. In her final career start, she suffered her only loss in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, finishing third behind Raise Fury after gamely setting a near-suicidal pace. As a broodmare, she produced stakes winner Hearts Aflame (by Loki Flame), and several other winners by Anxious Gold, Loki Flame, Loki Brilliance and Arrogance. Her 2yo by Satelite is placed, and she has two other foals, by Mischief Maker and Rapid Bay, who are still maidens.

Serena Sly was by Apollogize, which out of all the sires Serena's Song was bred to, is probably the weakest of the bunch. However, Serena's Song simply could not throw a bad offspring. The chestnut filly finished second in her debut to her aunt, Imagine the Thrill (like Serena's Song, a daughter of Imagining). After breaking her maiden next time out, she jumped up to stakes company, winning the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. A third straight win came in allowance company, and then in an effort to please all hunch bettors, she captured the Serena's Song Stakes. However, her winning streak came to an end in her next start, the Falls City Handicap, where she finished third. After a winter freshening, Serena Sly returned at four to win an allowance race, but tailed off after that, finishing second in the Shuvee Handicap and an allowance race before finishing fourth in the Test Stakes. After that poor effort, the filly was retired. Serena Sly has had only four foals to date, none of which have accomplished much. Despite being bred to high class sires, she has managed only minor winners by Loki Flame and Briliancefindsaway, a placed 3yo filly by Heir to the Throne and a placed 2yo by Conduit. It would be interesting to see the result of a Rapid Bay cross, given the success of Satelite.

Serena's Song's second to last foal was the least successful on the track. By Storm And Silence, Serena Silence raced six times at two, breaking her maiden in her second start, but then finishing unplaced in two straight stakes. She did manage a second in the My Dear Girl Stakes when stretched out to a mile, but that glimmer of hope was promptly dashed when she finished fourth in the 1 1/16 mile Frizette Stakes to conclude her juvenile season. Her sire was slow to mature, but Serena Silence failed to train on, never finishing better than fourth in six starts at three, the last four efforts coming in allowance company. She has redeemed herself as a broodmare. Her first foal, a Sports Jersey filly, was a minor stakes winner, but it is her second foal who has marked her a success - Power Surge, a son of Loki Flame, has earned more than $5.5 million to date. Her third and fourth foals, by Chesapeake Bay and Thunder Gulch, have not accomplished much so far, and she was bred back to Loki Flame this year.

Her final foal was Serena Succes. He was the fourth and final colt resulting from the Event of the Year x Serena's Song cross - one can only imagine what a filly from that mating would have been like as a broodmare. There were high expectations placed upon the chestnut colt, and he delivered, living up to his name. While he was never named champion, the colt never tasted defeat, with seven wins from seven starts in a conservative campaign. At two, he won a maiden race and an allowance race. After another allowance score in his three year old bow, Serena Success finally entered stakes competition in the Flamingo Stakes. After two more victories, in the Silver Valor Stakes and the Native Diver Handicap, the colt was finally tested in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Facing Tremendous and Tejano Causeway, the colt was not found wanting, emerging victorious by a head. After an emotional win, where Jennifer Stewart announced her retirement from training, Serena Success was sent to stud, where he has sired 48 foals from six crops to date, including millionairess Battles Baby Angel and current sensation Midnightconfession, a multiple champion and earner of more than $3.5 million, who was recently sold for a reported $15 million in cash. Serena Success currently stands for $50,000.

Unfortunately, Serena's Song died tragically from foaling complications giving birth to Serena Success while weakened by the Kentucky virus. Her fighting spirit might have been able to overcome one or the other, but the combination was simply too much for even her iron will. While Serena's Song was a gifted racehorse, she displayed the even rarer ability of passing on her talent to her offspring. All nine of her foals earned black type, with eight winning stakes, while two to date have earned the distinction of having their own Legends Biographies: Priceless Forever and Rivalry. When she was inducted into the Hall of Fame, it was said of her, "She had the elegance of a Grace Kelly, she had the moves of a Ginger Rogers, and she had the charisma of a Marilyn Monroe." She also had the heart of a lion. Rest in peace, sweet Serena's Song.