Serengeti Empress to target Test Stakes, Cotillion

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress will make her next start in the Grade 1 Test on Aug. 3 at Saratoga, further adding to an already loaded race expected to get two other standout 3-year-old fillies also based at Churchill Downs, Covfefe and Break Even, as well as the California-based star Bellafina.

Trainer Tom Amoss had seriously considered the Indiana Oaks, to be run July 13 at 1 1/16 miles, for Serengeti Empress before consulting Sunday with owner Joel Politi.

“We decided we want to stay at the one-turn distance,” said Amoss, referring to the seven furlongs of the Test. “It’s a chance to utilize her speed, and it also should set us up well for our main goal this fall, the Cotillion.”

Serengeti Empress was second to Guarana in the one-turn-mile Acorn at Belmont Park on June 8 in her only start since her front-running Kentucky Oaks victory. She has had two works since then, including an easy half-mile last Saturday in 50.80 seconds at Churchill, and will maintain a regular breeze schedule up to the Test.

Amoss said the move from the Test to the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion, to be run Sept. 21 at 1 1/16 miles at Parx Racing, “is very similar to what we did with the filly during the same time frame last year.”

Serengeti Empress was a romping gate-to-wire winner of both the seven-furlong Ellis Park Debutante in August and the 1 1/16-mile Pocahontas at Churchill in September.

“The Test should sharpen her up for the Cotillion,” said Amoss.