Filly Has the Boys Worried : Kentucky Derby: Serena’s Song could become Lukas’ second filly to win race.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —  Although trainer Brian Mayberry has never run a horse in the Kentucky Derby, his family is steeped in Derby tradition.

In 1903, his grandfather, J.P. Mayberry, saddled Derby winner Judge Himes. In 1928, Reigh Count won the Derby with jockey Charles (Chick) Lang, Brian Mayberry’s uncle.

“My uncle had a choice between riding Anita Peabody, a filly, and Reigh Count,” Mayberry said. “He picked the filly, but when she (was injured), he was able to hop back on Reigh Count.”

When the 121st Kentucky Derby is run at Churchill Downs today, Mayberry will be a spectator, as usual, since he trains mainly quality fillies.

Like Chick Lang, Corey Nakatani had the choice of riding the filly Serena’s Song or the colt In Character. Nakatani chose Serena’s Song, and Mayberry doesn’t think the jockey made a bad move. Mayberry is in a position to know. His barn has had occasional success in running against Serena’s Song. In fact, the score is Serena’s Song 3, Mayberry barn 2.

“I still think the colts will prevail but I can’t knock (trainer) Wayne Lukas for running the filly,” Mayberry said. “She’s a tried-and-true filly.”

The rivalry between Serena’s Song and Mayberry’s filly, Urbane, is better known, but the 57-year-old trainer was battling Lukas’ horse with another filly, How So Oiseau, in California last year. Urbane, in enough trouble to lose three races, ran second as the 3-10 favorite to Gal In A Ruckus in the Kentucky Oaks Friday at Churchill Downs.

Almost three weeks after Serena’s Song raced colts for the first time, finishing second, half a length behind Mr Purple, in last July’s Hollywood Juvenile, Lukas brought her back for the 6 1/2-furlong Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar. Serena’s Song was the 3-5 favorite, but she finished third, beaten by three lengths, as How So Oiseau won the race.

They hooked up again in September, in the Del Mar Debutante, and this time neither filly won. How So Oiseau finished second behind Call Now. Serena’s Song ran one of her worst races, finishing fourth, almost 10 lengths behind Call Now and more than five lengths behind How So Oiseau.

How So Oiseau chipped a knee, and only recently has been back in training after undergoing surgery.

“But I’m still zero for three against Lukas’ filly with Urbane,” Mayberry said before the Kentucky Oaks. “And we could have beaten her every time. Notice that I’m saying could have, not should have. “

The margin between Serena’s Song and Urbane was narrow two of the three times. Mayberry’s filly lost by a nose in the Hollywood Starlet, finished 1 1/2 lengths behind in the Las Virgenes last winter at Santa Anita and was beaten by a head in the Santa Anita Oaks.

Early last Saturday, knowing that he was going on national television in the afternoon with the surprising announcement that Serena’s Song was headed for the Derby instead of the Oaks, Lukas saw Mayberry along the Churchill Downs backstretch.

“I’m going to say something on TV that’s going to make you happy,” Lukas said.

“I know you’re not going on to tell them how nice I dress,” Mayberry replied.

Mayberry said he was stirring his second martini when Lukas made his dinnertime announcement about Serena’s Song. The next day, elated that Urbane wouldn’t have to battle Serena’s Song again, Mayberry bought a yellow baseball cap with the name of Lukas’ filly on it. He was still wearing it Wednesday when Bob and Beverly Lewis, owners of Serena’s Song, stopped by his barn to wish him well in the Oaks.

There have been suggestions, discounted by Lukas, that he’s running Serena’s Song in the Derby to soften up the other speed in the race, setting the stretch run up for his closers, Timber Country and Thunder Gulch.

“Serena’s Song is no rabbit,” Mayberry said. “That’s just her style of running. Then when you think she might be slowing down, she re-breaks and opens up at the end. There’s nothing wrong with running a filly against the boys if you think she’s good enough. I think Wayne’s got a chance to finish 1-2.”

The betting entry of Serena’s Song and Timber Country, winless since he was voted last year’s champion 2-year-old male, is listed as the 5-2 favorite on the morning line, but Lukas wasn’t lucky in the draw when all three of his horses came up with post positions on the outside in the 19-horse field. Serena’s Song is No. 13, Timber Country 15 and Thunder Gulch 16.

The crowd could reach 130,000 on a day that is supposed to come with sunshine and 75-degree weather.

“All you have to worry about, really, is how they get away,” Lukas said Friday. “If they get away and get a chance, post position won’t be that big of a deal.”

Most of the trainers in the Derby are not questioning Lukas’ running Serena’s Song.

“Lukas has had 23 horses in the race, and the only time he’s won it was with a filly,” said Roger Attfield, who trains Talkin Man, the 7-2 second choice. “So he has to go with the filly. And she’s a good filly.”

Winning Colors gave Lukas his only Derby victory, in 1988.

Richard Mandella, who trains Afternoon Deelites, the 9-2 third choice, echoed Attfield. Then he thought about the birds and the bees.

“If the filly’s in heat and the colts follow her too fast early, then we’re all in trouble,” Mandella said. “It would be just like Wayne to put perfume on her, wouldn’t it?”