As written in 2016 for the book “Old and New Friends,” written and photographed by Barbara D. Livingston, published by DRF Press. I asked fans to describe, in a sentence or two, why they love Serena’s Song.  Although not everyone stayed within those constraints, their answers were surprisingly similar: “She ran so hard, head down and laying it all down . . .  I love the young fillies. When you get a tough one they don't know the meaning of quit. Some of them never learn it - she was one of them.” – Emily Wilmot “I met her once. She was tough as nails, just as she was on track. Tremendous constitution.” – Jeanne Wood “A sentence? How about one word . . . GRIT.”  – Roxane Losey “Her tenacity; the way she laid it all down on the line every, single, time . . . Also she was basically just really brilliant.” – Emily Shields “The best part about Serena's Song from a young racing fan's perspective was that she ran long enough and often enough that I really had a horse to follow. She was tough as nails her whole career.” – Alysse Jacobs “Her incredible durability and brilliance – a rare combination – during a long career in which she was ambitiously campaigned!” – Nicole Russo “Her try. The girl had game.” – Shauna Campbell “I watched the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies already enamored with the brilliant Flanders. I was 9 and the ensuing duel and its aftermath laid within me a foundation that has served me ever since. It taught me what heart and guts looked like, how to deal with heartbreak, and in the runner-up I discovered what makes an ideal racehorse. Serena's Song was tenacity, consistency, durability, talent, and class. That she has passed along those characteristics for generations is a nearly incomparable gift to her fans and the sport.” – Susie Raisher “Possibly the toughest horse we've seen in 30 years or more. Danced every dance!” – Tommy Walters   Indeed, Serena’s Song did dance every dance. With her head low and ears pinned flat, she raced a whopping 38 times over three seasons and was first or second 28 times. She won 17 stakes, including a remarkable 11 Grade 1’s, and beat the boys in both the Haskell and Jim Beam.  Bob and Beverly Lewis, the kindest couple you’ll ever meet, bought the bay daughter of Rahy out of Imagining, by Northfields, as a yearling for $150,000 in 1993. Although she wasn’t tall, she was unusually athletic, with solid conformation and a powerful hind end. Racing in the Lewises’ famous green and yellow silks and trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Serena’s Song first gained national attention when she just failed to catch Flanders, another Lukas trainee, in the 1994 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.   Flanders was injured that day and never raced again – but Serena sure did, and all over the country. She won 9 of 13 starts at 3 and was named that year’s champion 3-year-old filly. At 4, she won or placed in 14 of 15 races. :: Bet the races online with DRF Bets. New members get $250 bonus She had her limits, however. She didn’t care for races at 1 1/4 miles, and, in hindsight, the 1995 Kentucky Derby was a mistake. Although she was the post-time favorite at 3-1, Serena led early before fading to 16th.  She had other limits, too. Treat her with respect, and she was good to work with.  Give her a peppermint, and you’d win her heart. But she didn’t care for things she found stupid – exemplified in her final chart note, which read, “backed up when whipped.” Serena’s Song retired as the country’s all-time leading money-winning female with $3,283,388. In 2002, she entered racing’s Hall of Fame, four years before the beloved Bob Lewis died at age 81.   At Serena’s Song’s induction, Lukas said, “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. For you people that are a lot younger and don’t have a clue as to what I’m talking about, she had the moves of Janet Jackson and the charisma of Britney Spears.” Some mares might then disappear, their names relegated to pedigree lines and history books, but Serena’s second career also was smashing. Ten of Serena’s 12 foals to race are winners.  :: Shop DRF Past Performances, Clocker Reports, Digital Paper, Picks and more Her first, Serena’s Tune, won several minor stakes and earned $337,260. Serena’s Tune’s daughter Serena’s Cat has produced two stakes winners, including the multiple Grade 1-winning Honor Code. Serena’s Song also has produced Grade 1 winner Sophisticat, stakes-placed Arbitrate, Grade 2 winners Grand Reward and Harlington, Grade 3 winner Schramsberg, and a minor stakes winner named Serene Melody. In addition, five of Serena’s Song’s yearlings sold at auction for seven-digit figures, and there are currently five sons of Serena’s Song listed at stud.   Through it all, Serena’s Song has resided at the world-class Denali Stud in Paris, Ky. Farm owner Craig Banderoff is fully aware of her greatness – so much so, in fact, she has remained prominent on his website and he still mentions her in interviews.    Banderoff speaks about her with great admiration – including mention of the fact that, although classy, she’s no pushover. They learned to leave her alone as much as possible for a few days after she foaled each time, for instance, because her foals were hers and she didn’t want you pestering them. After a few days, she always relaxed, though – especially when hearing the crinkle of a peppermint wrapper. Beverly Lewis and her son Jeff have kept three of Serena’s Song’s daughters – two broodmares and her final foal, Gold Serenade. :: To stay up to date, follow DRF on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter After Serena’s Song aborted a foal at age 22, the Lewises pensioned her. “Serena is still in great health and condition,” said Bandoroff in a press release. “It has been a great honor to work with the Lewises for the entirety of her breeding career. “She’s had a profound impact on the growth and development of Denali Stud. . . . The Lewis family and we, at Denali, are looking forward to Serena’s legacy extending many years into the future.”