Covfefe outgames Serengeti Empress in Test

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Two fast and very game fillies, Covfefe and Serengeti Empress, put on quite a show from start to finish before the former prevailed by a half-length in Saturday’s $500,000 Test Stakes at Saratoga. The top pair finished nearly nine lengths in front of Bellafina who checked home a well-beaten third as the 2-1 favorite in the tradition-rich Grade 1 event for 3-year-old fillies.

Covfefe had several questions to answer coming into the seven furlong Test including her ability to get the distance, to handle the inevitable pace pressure from Serengeti Empress, and to rebound from a disappointing third-place finish as the 2-5 favorite in her previous start, the Roxelana Stakes at Churchill Downs.

With Joel Rosario aboard for the first time, Covfefe stalked the pace of Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress from the outset before engaging that rival after an opening half-mile completed in a swift 44.28 seconds. Covfefe swung four wide into the stretch, stuck her head in front of Serengeti Empress nearing the furlong marker, and never relinquished that advantage under strong handling to the end.

As expected, Serengeti Empress was hustled to the lead along the inside by Jose Ortiz. She set a lively pace, fought back bravely once headed by the winner in early stretch, but was not quite good enough.

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Bellafina, a bit slow early, saved ground while well within striking distance of the two early leaders but lacked a serious late response, never threatening the top pair at any point.

Covfefe, a 3-year-old daughter of Into Mischief owned by L N J Foxwoods, completed seven panels over a fast track in 1:21.26 and paid $8.50.

“Her work two weeks ago at Churchill downs was as good a work as a horse could put in, 1:11 and 1 just cruising, and I knew we were going to get as good a Covfefe as we could at this point of the year,” said Cox. “If she was ever going to get seven-eighths, it was going to be today.”

Cox said he left the strategy up to his rider when it came to dealing with the early speed of Serengeti Empress.

“Joel did an excellent job, gave her a great trip,” said Cox. “It was up to him 100 percent on where he wanted to be. They sent that filly from the inside like they said they would, and it worked out well for our filly. She sat a good trip. I didn’t her her cranked up for that last race [Roxelana], but I knew we were going to get a better effort from her today. When she got her head in front, I felt pretty confident to be quite honest. But that was a Grade 1 winner on the inside we had to get by. And now we’re a Grade 1 winner.”

Tom Amoss, who trains Serengeti Empress, said he was super proud of his filly in defeat.

“We don’t hang our heads at all, our filly ran a fine race,” said Amoss. “It was the kind of race the fans were hoping for. For myself personally, I just wish it had gone the other way. We got beat by a wonderful performance by our opponent Covfefe. The way my filly fought back in the final sixteenth, I couldn’t be more proud of her. ”