Serengeti Empress, Guarana Renew Rivalry in Cotillion

In addition to a $1 million purse and a paid berth in the Nov. 2 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Santa Anita Park as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, the Sept. 21 Cotillion Stakes (G1) at Parx Racing carries championship implications.

A victory from the 9-5 morning-line choice, Guarana, would make her a three-time grade 1 winner in 2019, cementing her status as the favorite for the 3-year-old filly title. However, a Guarana defeat, particularly one delivered by rivals Serengeti Empress or Bellafina, would place those fillies in the championship conversation, and potentially open the door for some fillies not racing at Parx Saturday, such as Alabama Stakes (G1) winner Dunbar Road.

What is at stake is not lost on Tom Amoss, who trains Serengeti Empress, winner of the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs. "I think if one of these top fillies that is a proven grade 1 filly already wins on Saturday, she is going to be named champion 3-year-old filly," he said.

A rail draw in the Cotillion, coupled with an abundance of speed, did frontrunning Serengeti Empress no favors. She will have to sprint away to secure position under Irad Ortiz Jr. to establish the lead over a quick group that includes 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Jaywalk.

An aggressive strategy would be nothing new for the Alternation  filly, who has led at the first call in all five of her races this year as a 3-year-old, even in a pair of one-turn races, the one-mile Acorn (G1) and seven-furlong Longines Test (G1), which followed her Kentucky Oaks triumph. Those races resulted in runner-up finishes, first a six-length defeat behind Guarana in the June 8 Acorn at Belmont Park and then a half-length loss to Covfefe in the Aug. 3 Test at Saratoga Race Course.

"We're a horse that is coming off sprints, and we think our speed is going to be at its finest," Amoss said. "That's her weapon. So that's our plan, to go right out of the gate."

A $70,000 yearling purchase at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by owner Joel Politi from the consignment of Brookdale Sales, Serengeti Empress has compiled a 5-2-0 record from 10 starts while earning $1,267,120. Bred by Tri Eques Bloodstock and out of the Bernardini  mare Havisham, she is one of three millionaires in the field, the others being Bellafina ($1,162,125) and Jaywalk ($1,653,500).

Although Guarana has not yet passed $1 million in earnings, having made $697,400, a seven-figure bankroll seems only a matter of time for the daughter of Ghostzapper . Unbeaten in three starts for owner-breeder Three Chimneys Farm, she recorded a 14 3/4-length first-out maiden victory at Keeneland in the slop April 19, followed that race with a scintillating Acorn, and then led throughout in winning the July 21 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga.

Racing two turns for the first time in the 1 1/8-mile Coaching Club American Oaks, Guarana was not as dynamic as in her earlier victories, hitting the wire a length ahead of Point of Honor. She cuts back in distance to race 1 1/16 miles in the Cotillion.

Other prominent entries in the Cotillion include Street Band, winner of the Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and Indiana Oaks (G3), and Davona Dale (G2) winner Jeltrin, who took the local prep, the Sept. 2 Cathryn Sophia Stakes at Parx. Post time is 5:14 p.m. EDT, approximately a half-hour before the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby.

Entries: Cotillion S. (G1)

Parx Racing, Saturday, September 21, 2019, Race 10

• Grade I
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $1,000,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 5:14 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Serengeti Empress (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	124	Thomas M. Amoss	7/2
2	2Afleet Destiny (KY)	UNKNOWN	117	Uriah St. Lewis	30/1
3	3Street Band (KY)	Sophie Doyle	122	J. Larry Jones	8/1
4	4Jeltrin (KY)	Leonel Reyes	122	Alexis Delgado	12/1
5	5Collegeville Girl (NY)	Angel Castillo	117	Richard Vega	20/1
6	6Horologist (NJ)	Luis Saez	122	John F. Mazza	15/1
7	7She Makes Me Smile (NY)	Wesley Torres	117	Trevor Gallimore	50/1
8	8Guarana (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	124	Chad C. Brown	9/5
9	9Sweet Sami D (KY)	Paco Lopez	117	Patrick B. McBurney	20/1
10	10Bellafina (KY)	Flavien Prat	124	Simon Callaghan	6/1
11	11Jaywalk (KY)	Joel Rosario	122	John C. Servis	6/1