Serengeti Empress Takes Aim at Cotillion Next

Joel Politi's Serengeti Empress came out of her gritty second-place finish to Covfefe in the Longines Test Stakes (G1) last week in good order and will target the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1) Sept. 21 at Parx Racing, trainer Tom Amoss confirmed Aug. 8.

The three-time graded stakes winner, who captured the May 3 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs, dueled with Covfefe down the lane in the seven-furlong Test Aug. 3 at Saratoga and finished a half-length back to the winner, with third-place finisher Bellafina another 8 3/4 lengths back.

It marked the second straight competitive runner up effort for Serengeti Empress, who also ran second to Guarana in the June 8 Acorn Stakes (G1) on Belmont Stakes Day.

"We're really proud of her. She ran really well and I think her, along with the winner Covfefe, put on a great show," Amoss said. "I'm disappointed she ran second but that's just how it goes. She came out of the race in good shape and we're pointing her to the Cotillion. She'll go back home to Louisville to prepare for that."

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin also confirmed that Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes winner A Thread of Blue will point toward the inaugural $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park, the Sept. 7 third leg of the New York Racing Association's Turf Trinity Series.

Leonard Green's dark bay son of Hard Spun  scored his third stakes victory in the Saratoga Derby, which came after wins in the Dania Beach and Palm Beach (G3) at Gulfstream Park. He did not compete in the first leg of the Turf Triple—the July 6 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T).

"He came out of the race really well, we'll look at (the Jockey Club Derby)," McLaughlin said. "We weren't sure if he'd get a mile-and-three-sixteenths and we aren't sure he'll get a mile-and-a-half, but we've got a million reasons to try. If it's firm, that will help. If it's really soft, we might reconsider."