Serena’s Song Ensures Derby Will Match Best Front-Running Star Tries To Become Fourth Filly To Win Run For The Roses As One Of Three Starters For Lukas

The filly Serena’s Song is in the Kentucky Derby, and D. Wayne Lukas is not the only trainer pleased about that.

“It makes it true and fair,” Nick Zito, Suave Prospect’s trainer, said Sunday about Lukas’ decision to run the speedy Serena’s Song in the Derby on Saturday instead of in the Kentucky Oaks the day before at Churchill Downs.

“A woman makes everything stable,” added Zito, who will have Julie Krone on his own horse in a bid for a third Derby win in five years. He won with Strike the Gold in 1991 and Go for Gin last year.

Serena’s Song likes to run on the lead. Sunday morning, she worked three-quarters of a mile in a quick 1:12, with a sizzling final quarter of 23 2/5 seconds.

“I think she gives us an honest pace,” said Roger Attfield, trainer of Talkin Man, the wire-to-wire winner of the Wood Memorial on April 15 at Aqueduct.

“He doesn’t have to be on the lead,” Attfield said of his Canadian-bred colt. “In fact, he doesn’t like to be on the lead.”

It appears now that Talkin Man won’t have to set the pace.

The colt demonstrated his speed on Sunday by working three-quarters of a mile in 1:12 4/5.

The decision to start Serena’s Song in the Derby, Lukas said, “gives me a really strong hand in a race that is the ultimate for a trainer in the world.”

Lukas also will start the colts Timber Country and Thunder Gulch in the Derby. Serena’s Song and Timber Country will run as an entry because Robert and Beverly Lewis, the filly’s owners, also co-own Timber Country. Thunder Gulch is expected to run as a separate betting interest.

“She does nothing to compromise my other two horses,” Lukas said. “She enhances both of their chances.”

Both colts run from off the pace.

“I think it helps a guy like me,” said Bruce Jackson, trainer of stretch-running In Character. “It puts a lot more speed in the race.”

Lukas’ decision, however, puts Jackson in a spot.

Jackson said he has the call on Corey Nakatani to ride In Character. Nakatani’s agent Bob Meldahl, however, said by phone from California on Sunday that he told Jackson that Nakatani would ride his colt only if the filly didn’t run in the Derby.

Jackson also said that after hearing from Nakatani that he released Chris McCarron and Craig Perret from riding In Character. McCarron will ride Knockadoon in the Derby, while Perret will be on Jambalaya Jazz.

As for the rider situation, Lukas said, “There’s a lot of good jockeys around.”

Lukas had been saying he was leaning toward entering Serena’s Song in the Oaks, but decided Friday night to put her in the Derby after talking with the Lewises.

“I think it was a tough decision for them,” Lukas said. “They went back and forth, but ultimately they got real comfortable with her running in the Derby. She’s got a legitimate chance to win.”

The 35th and last filly to run in the Derby was Winning Colors, who gave Lukas his only victory in 14 Derbies. The only other winning fillies were Regret in 1915 and Genuine Risk in 1980.

Serena’s Song has five straight stakes wins, and in her last start took the Jim Beam at Turfway Park on April 1 against seven colts, including Derby candidate Tejano Run.

It appears the filly will face 18 colts Saturday.

Lukas’ three starters would give him a Derby record 26, breaking the mark of 24 set by H.J. “Dick” Thompson in 1920-37.

Lukas has started two other fillies, both of which were unplaced. The best finishes by any of his 20 colts were thirds by Partez, 1981, and Dance Floor, 1992.