By Frank Angst

Dr. Howard Baker, breeder of 1995 champion three-year-old filly Serena’s Song, died on Saturday in Encino, California.

Baker, 68, a retired neurologist, purchased Imagining for $70,000 at the 1985 California Thoroughbred Sales Company’s March sale of two-year-olds in training. While Imagining, by Northfields, won just two of 26 starts while racing three seasons for Baker, she would deliver as the broodmare of 11-time Grade 1 winner Serena’s Song.

Serena’s Song, a daughter of Rahy, was the all-time leading North American female earner when she was retired in 1996 with $3,283,388 in purse earnings.

Purchased by Arthur Appleton for $42,000 as a weanling at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale from Pope McLean agent, Serena’s Song sold again at the 1993 Keeneland July selected yearlings sale for $150,000 to owners Bob and Beverly Lewis. The Lewises invited Baker and his daughter, Mindy Kolani, to Serena Song’s Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2002.

“He thought the Lewises were wonderful people and he was glad that she raced in their silks,” said Kolani, one of Baker’s three daughters. “He was so happy to be there that day and so proud of her.”

Born and raised in Cleveland, Kolani served as a hotwalker for trainer J. L. McKnight at Ohio tracks in the 1950s. He purchased his first Thoroughbred in 1982.

Once off the track, Imagining proved a top producer for Baker. Her first foal, the Raise a Native filly Vivid Imagination, won the 1991 Golden Rod Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. Serena’s Song was the mare’s third foal.

A Grade 1 winner at two, Serena’s Song defeated males in the Jim Beam Stakes (G2) to help her earn the status of 1995 Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite, along with entry mate Timber Country. Serena’s Song led for the first mile of the Derby before fading to 16th.

After the Derby, she would bounce back in spectacular fashion, reeling off five stakes wins. During that stretch, she won the Mother Goose Stakes (G1) and Gazelle Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park, defeated older females in the Beldame Stakes (G1) at Belmont, and defeated males in the Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1) at Monmouth Park. At four she secured three more Grade 1 wins, taking events on both coasts.

“He has a copy of Serena’s Song’s Hall of Fame plaque, and he talked about putting that on his gravestone. It meant a lot to him,” Kolani said. “We decided that it wouldn’t hold up well in the weather, so he asked me to display it in my house.”

Frank Angst is the Thoroughbred Times senior writer