Serengeti Empress Records First Work at Saratoga

Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Serengeti Empress recorded her first work on the Saratoga Race Course main track following the renovation break July 14, covering four furlongs in :47.69 under exercise rider Gilbert Concha.

Trainer Tom Amoss was pleased with the move and is still pointing the dark bay Alternation  filly toward the Aug. 3 Longines Test Stakes (G1)—one of six graded stakes events scheduled for the Fasig-Tipton Racing Festival. 

"Serengeti Empress had a very good workout today," Amoss said. "It was her first time over the Saratoga course. We went right after the break, which is a very busy time, and there was a lot of traffic throughout her workout. She handled it fine, and she was a pro when it comes to that, so I was very happy with how she did."

Serengeti Empress finished second to Guarana in the June 8 Acorn Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park last out after scoring a gate-to-wire victory in the Kentucky Oaks. Known for having a high cruising speed, Serengeti Empress was a previous runaway winner against graded company with a dominant 19 1/2-length win in the Pocahontas Stakes (G2) in September at Churchill Downs. She made her seasonal bow with a 4 1/2-length win in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. 

Amoss was particularly satisfied with how easily Serengeti Empress was moving over the Saratoga course. 

"She seems to be herself, and that's good news," Amoss said. "I think the most important thing to point out, and certainly what I observed, was how quiet the rider was on her during the last portion of the work and how well she was moving over the racetrack. We'll see her breeze again before the Test, maybe twice, and we'll take it from there."

A victory in the Test would give Amoss his first grade 1 win at the Spa since Heritage of Gold won the Go for Wand Handicap (G1) in 2000.