2019 Eclipse Awards: Serengeti Empress

Serengeti Empress danced many of the major dances for fillies in 2019 – and, on the day of her division’s signature race, she was the queen.

Kentucky Oaks heroine Serengeti Empress is one of the three finalists for the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding 3-year-old filly. Since the advent of the modern Eclipse Awards, in 1971, 15 winners of the Oaks have gone on to be voted divisional champion. This century, that list includes Farda Amiga (2002), Bird Town (2003), Ashado (2004), Rags to Riches (2007), Proud Spell (2008), Rachel Alexandra (2009), Blind Luck (2010), Untapable (2014), Abel Tasman (2017), and Monomoy Girl (2018).

Serengeti Empress, by Alternation, was bred by Tri Eques Bloodstock and was a $70,000 bargain purchase as a yearling at the 2017 Keeneland September sale by Joel Politi. She distinguished herself as a juvenile by winning the Ellis Park Debutante by 13 1/2 lengths, followed by the Grade 2 Pocahontas Stakes by 19 1/2 lengths.

The biggest highs and lows were still to come.

:: Full list of 2019 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

Serengeti Empress kicked off 2019 by winning the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes. However, in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks on March 23, she suffered a bleeding episode that caused her to stop badly after leading. She finished last of seven and was vanned off. Although the Kentucky Oaks initially appeared to be off the table, the way she returned to training at Churchill Downs convinced trainer Tom Amoss to put her back into consideration for the filly classic.

“The getting her ready is all Tom. So credit here goes to Tom,” Politi said. “What we’ve been through emotionally in the last six weeks is a lot of things, because to us, she’s a really special horse. Tom and I stood in the barn and said we’re not under any pressure to run in the Oaks. We were both very resolute in that we were not going to run in the Oaks under any press or push just to run in this race. We took it day by day. And she’s an incredible athlete, and she showed it every day in the morning. . . . She told us that she was fine repetitively along the way.”

Serengeti Empress affirmed she was in fine fettle by winning the Kentucky Oaks by 1 3/4 lengths on the first Friday in May.

“I have never won a race this big in my entire life, and I have been training since 1987,” Amoss said. “I’ve won a lot of races, but not one like this. And I have heard it said that when it happens, it’s just a different experience. Today for me, it was a rush of emotions.”

Serengeti Empress has both speed and stamina, giving her connections options for the rest of the season. The filly cut back to a one-turn mile off the Oaks, finishing second to Guarana in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes. She was then beaten a half-length by Covfefe in the Grade 1 Test Stakes at seven furlongs. Guarana and Covfefe are the other two divisional finalists.

Serengeti Empress stretched back out for the Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing nearly two months after the Test, finishing sixth. That moved her forward into the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Shipping across the country, Serengeti Empress led into the stretch at Santa Anita before grudgingly giving way to finish third behind older multiple Grade 1 winners Blue Prize and Midnight Bisou – signaling that she’s prepared to be a force in the older female division next season.