Seattle Serenade looks like a million bucks in debut

DEL MAR, Calif. – There always have been high hopes for Seattle Serenade. It goes with the territory for horses who cost $1 million as yearlings. But until Thursday, Seattle Serenade had endured minor setbacks that prevented him from getting to the races.

The wait sure looked worth it, though, when Seattle Serenade finally debuted, as the 3-year-old colt scored a fast win against maidens at Del Mar while earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 88, prevailing by a half-length over the well-bred Statesman, who was 11 1/2 lengths clear of the next horse.

“He ran super and came home fast,” said Jerry Hollendorfer, the trainer and co-owner of Seattle Serenade.

Seattle Serenade was timed in 1:15.83 for 6 1/2 furlongs under Mike Smith. “He’s very athletic,” Smith said.

Seattle Serenade, by Smart Strike and out of the Canadian champion mare Serenading, went through the ring at Keeneland in September 2013, bringing $1 million. He was close to starting at age 2 and again earlier this year, but Hollendorfer had to regroup with him.

“He had little things here and there that set him back, but whenever he did, he went home to Pegasus,” Hollendorfer said, referring to a rehab and training facility in Washington, “and they took care of things.”