Serena’s Song Is First Filly to Win Haskell Handicap

Except for a couple of hiccups along the way, Serena’s Song keeps responding to the challenges. The 3-year-old filly was introduced to another new track Sunday, was thrown into her 19th race in 13 months, and again was asked to beat males. She held off Pyramid Peak and earned $300,000 by winning the $500,000 Haskell Handicap at Monmouth Park.

Now, Serena’s Song may finally get a well-earned breather. The year-end goal is the $1-million Breeders’ Cup Distaff, at Belmont Park on Oct. 28, and trainer Wayne Lukas said she would probably run only one more time before then, in the $150,000 Gazelle Handicap at Belmont on Sept. 3.

In many years, Serena’s Song would be a horse-of-the-year contender. She’s beaten males twice, and has seven victories and one second in nine races, but Cigar has traveled coast to coast and won all six starts this year.

Lukas is bold, but he shouldn’t be brash enough to run against Cigar in the $3-million Breeders’ Cup Classic. Both the Gazelle and the Distaff are at 1 1/8 miles, Serena’s Song’s favorite distance. The Haskell was her fourth victory without a loss over nine furlongs.

Gary Stevens, in from Del Mar to ride Serena’s Song in New Jersey, placed her second, behind pace-setting Reality Road in the 11-horse field. Serena’s Song moved to the front nearing the far turn, held a 3 1/2-length lead with an eighth of a mile left, then won by three-quarters of a length over Pyramid Peak.

Citadeed finished third, beaten by 4 1/4 lengths, and he was two lengths better than Suave Prospect, the fourth-place finisher. The time was 1:48 4/5. Favored Serena’s Song paid $5 to win at Monmouth. She carried 118 pounds, two less than Pyramid Peak and Suave Prospect.

“Gary made a bit of a premature move at the eighth pole, so it looked like she was shortening at the end,” Lukas said. “I felt very good about her going into the race. Her action was beautiful.”

Serena’s Song, the second filly to run in the Haskell, is the first female to win the race. Her overall record is 11 victories in 19 starts, with earnings of $1.8 million.

Before Monmouth, Serena’s Song had spread her victories over Belmont Park, Pimlico, Santa Anita, Hollywood Park and Turfway Park.

The only tracks over which she has run and failed to win have been Del Mar and Churchill Downs, where she was 16th in this year’s Kentucky Derby. She finished third and fourth in two starts at Del Mar last year.

Serena’s Song, by Rahy out of Imagining, was a $150,000 yearling purchase by Bob and Beverly Lewis of Newport Beach.

“She keeps giving us one thrill after another,” Bob Lewis said. “We are very blessed.”