Serena’s Song Retired From Breeding

The family of Robert B. and Beverly J. Lewis and Denali Stud announced yesterday that champion racemare Serena’s Song (Rahy–Imagining, by Northfields) has been retired from breeding at the age of 23. 

“Serena is still in great health and condition,” noted Denali Stud owner Craig Bandoroff. She doesn’t look anything like your ordinary 23-year-old mare. However, when she lost her 2014 pregnancy this Fall, everyone agreed that it was time to let her live out her remaining years in leisure.”

Purchased by the Lewises for $150,000 as a Keeneland July yearling in 1993, the bay carried the family’s colors for the entirety of her career and won 17 graded stakes races in the span of three seasons at the racetrack, including a remarkable 11 Grade I victories. Among her most celebrated wins was a triumph over male contemporaries in the 1995 GI Haskell Invitational H. 

Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Serena’s Song accumulated $3.2 million in earnings from 38 starts and won the Eclipse Award for champion 3-year-old filly in 1995. Retired from racing following her 4-year-old season in 1996, she joined her trainer in the Hall of Fame in 2002.

Serena’s Song’s achievements as a broodmare nearly approach her aptitude in racing, as she has produced four graded stakes winners and 10 winners in total from 12 foals to race. Most notably, she is responsible for a trio of full-siblings by Storm Cat: Sophisticat, who annexed the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot in 2002; Grand Reward, winner of the GII Oaklawn H. in 2005; and 2011 GIII John B. Connally Turf Cup H. victor Schramsberg.

She is also the dam of GSW Harlington (Unbridled).

In the auction ring, Serena’s Song was represented by five seven-figure yearlings. Leading the way was Colourful Score (Storm Cat), who sold for $3.5 million at the 2005 Keeneland September sale. Full-sister Sophisticat sold for $3.4 million to Coolmore’s Demi O’Byrne at the 2000 Keeneland July sale, and Harlington was a $2.8 million purchase by Eugene Melnyk at the 2003 Keeneland September sale.

“I know that there will never be another broodmare like her for me,” admitted Bandoroff. “It has been a great honor to work with the Lewises for the entirety of her breeding career. She has had a profound impact on the growth and development of Denali Stud.” 

According to Bandoroff, Denali currently has three of Serena’s Song’s daughters, including a weanling filly by Medaglia d’Oro. Her 2010 filly, Serene Melody (Street Cry {Ire}) is a winner and campaigns for the Robert B. and Beverly J. Lewis Trust while under the care of trainer Charlie LoPresti. 

The lasting influence of Serena’s Song as a broodmare continues multiple generations down the line. Recently, that impact is best highlighted by the breeding record of her granddaughter Serena’s Cat (Storm Cat). The dam of MGSW & GISP Noble Tune (Unbridled’s Song) and GSW Honor Code (A.P. Indy), Serena’s Cat’s weanling filly by Tapit sold to Bridlewood Farm for a North American record $3 million at the Keeneland November sale last month.

Bandoroff continued, “The Lewis family and we, at Denali, are looking forward to Serena’s legacy extending many years into the future.”