Serengeti Empress Fires Bullet Penultimate Test Work

Joel Politi's Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Serengeti Empress drilled a half-mile in :47 3/5 on Saratoga Race Course's main track July 21 in preparation for the Aug. 3 Longines Test Stakes (G1).

The 3-year-old Alternation  filly's penultimate work for the seven-furlong Test was the fastest of 102 recorded works at the distance.

"Serengeti Empress shows her hand in her workouts in the morning, and since we've been up here, she has done very, very well," said trainer Tom Amoss. "This workout was another in a series of good and enthusiastic workouts by her, signaling to me that she's ready."

In her most recent start June 8, Serengeti Empress set a quick pace in the one-mile Acorn Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park but finished second to Guarana.

Amoss said the speedy Serengeti Empress always exerts plenty of energy in her breezes.

"With her, she puts a great deal into her workouts whenever she works out. She likes her job and she's quick, she's athletic," Amoss said. "This workout is not harder or easier than any of the others that we use going into the Test—that's just how she works. You won't see her in company with another horse—there's no need for that. She is plenty fit. The workout pattern will be very similar to what you've seen since we got up here."

Serengeti Empress raced at Saratoga in her second start, finishing fourth in the Schuylerville Stakes (G3) last summer. She has since won three graded stakes, including a flashy 19 1/2-length victory in the Pocahontas Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs and a 4 1/2-length win in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

"She gets over the track well. Not all of them do," said Amoss. "Some of them need time to adapt to it, but she's never been a victim of that. Since day one, she's got over the track in good fashion."

Amoss will look for his first grade 1 win at the Spa since Heritage of Gold in the 2000 Go for Wand Handicap (G1).

"It's tough to win a grade 1 anywhere, but obviously Saratoga, if you're going to win a grade 1 here, you better bring your lunch pail with you," said Amoss. "She's going to bring her lunch pail, so hopefully it works out."