Sam-Son Farm has announced the passing of Wilderness Song (1988–2011), the bay mare that gave the legendary Canadian owner-breeder its’ first Grade 1 winner in the United States.
Wilderness Song, a homebred daughter of Wild Again-Nalee’s Rhythm, captured the Grade 1 Spinster Stakes at Keeneland in 1991. She would carve out a magnificent career on U.S. tracks. In 19 starts south of the border, she had seven victories and six second-place finishes.
Her wins came in the Pimlico Distaff Handicap, the Grade 2 Molly Pitcher and the Grade 3 Monmouth Park Breeders’ Cup Handicap and the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Breeders’ Cup Handicap. She was also stakes placed in races at Churchill Downs, Hawthorne and Detroit. At Keeneland, she won three of four starts.
Despite having to face stablemate Dance Smartly in the Canadian Oaks and Queen’s Plate, finishing as the runner-up in both of the prestigious races, and the Prince of Wales on Canadian soil, Wilderness Song was a genuine success story, winning the Grade 3 Mazarine, the important Princess Elizabeth, Bison City, Fury and Belle Mahone Stakes.
She won eight times in Canada and in 18 starts had an 8-6-2 record. In 37 starts, Wilderness Song won 15 times and was in the money in 29 races. Of her 37 starts, 31 were in stakes races.
In 1992, Wilderness Song won the Sovereign Award as Canada’s champion Older Filly or Mare and in 2008, was inducted into The Canadian Racing Hall of Fame. Her career earnings of $1,482,005 placed her ninth among all leading money-winning Canadian-breds when she retired following the 1993 season.
The Samuel family is looking to her grandson, Giant’s Tomb, to make an impact at the racetrack in 2011 and the broodmare band will continue to produce grandsons and granddaughters of a special mare, who has secured a special place in the history of Sam-Son Farm.
Wilderness Song has been laid to rest alongside Dance Smartly at the Milton Farm. She retired from the broodmare band in 2008
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