Serengeti Empress shakes off slow break, wins Ballerina

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Tom Amoss calls Serengeti Empress the “gift that keeps on giving” and Saturday at Saratoga the speedy filly gave it her all, overcoming a sluggish start and contested pace to register a one-length victory over the favored Bellafina in the Grade 1 Ballerina.

The victory was the second in a Grade 1 for Serengeti Empress and earned her an automatic, fees-paid berth into the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

Serengeti Empress broke slowly from her inside post, reminiscent of the way she began the 2019 Test, in which she battled on gamely afterward to finish second behind Covfefe, who would subsequently be crowned the season’s champion female sprinter. And, as was the case in the Test, Serengeti Empress found herself pressed on the lead and forced to endure strenuous fractions when engaged from the outset by Letruska, with the two posting splits of 21.75 seconds and 43.74 for the opening quarter and half-mile of the seven-furlong Ballerina.

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Serengeti Empress, hard-ridden much of the way by jockey Luis Saez, ultimately disposed of Letruska upon settling into the stretch, only to be challenged through midstretch by California invader Bellafina, who was returning to Saratoga for the first time since finishing a distant third in last year’s Test. But Serengeti Empress dug in gamely to fend off the 5-2 favorite and maintain a clear advantage at the end.

Victim of Love saved ground but lacked the necessary closing response, finishing another 1 1/2 lengths farther back in third. She was followed in order by last year’s Ballerina winner Come Dancing, the tiring Letruska, disappointing Pink Sands, and Cookie Dough.

Serengeti Empress completed the distance in 1:21.63 over a fast track and paid $8.30 as the second choice in the field of seven older fillies and mares. Joel Politi owns Serengeti Empress, who captured the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks during the spring of her 3-year-old campaign.

“Serengeti Empress broke a step slow but she was able to catch back up and gain position and being able to do that was important,” Amoss said. “But when I saw the half-mile time, and keeping in mind she had to catch up to put in those fractions, I was very nervous she had done too much early. But today she showed just how much grit she has.”

Amoss acknowledged turning back to seven furlongs for the first time since the Test was key to Serengeti Empress’s victory.

“If you paid attention to her race in the Test last year, when she was beaten just a half-length by Covfefe, who went on to be a champion, you knew there was a good chance seven furlongs could be exactly what she wanted. I think we found a home here. Her speed is her game and she used it and was able to hold off a very good filly from California [Bellafina]. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

Amoss said he would now point Serengeti Empress to the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 7 while possibly considering giving her one more start prior to the Filly and Mare Sprint which, like the Ballerina, is run at seven furlongs.