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Serengeti Empress Retired, To Visit Into Mischief

Serengeti Empress (Alternation–Havisham, by Bernardini), second to Gamine (Into Mischief) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint S. Saturday at Keeneland, has been retired and will be bred to Into Mischief, according to a tweet from trainer Tom Amoss’s daughter Hayley Amoss Wednesday morning.

“Said goodbye to Serengeti Empress yesterday with plenty of peppermints,” tweeted Amoss, with a photo of herself and the filly taken in front of her stall Tuesday morning. “Sad that she will no longer be in the first stall at Tom Amoss’s barn, but thrilled that [owner] Joel Politi is keeping her a short drive away at Taylor Made. On to the next chapter of her legacy!”

Mark Toothaker, the stallion sales manager at Spendthrift Farm, tweeted, “What a filly. So happy Joel Politi and Tom Amoss allowed us the privilege to have her visit Into Mischief.”

A $25,000 KEENOV weanling buy turned $70,000 KEESEP purchase, Serengeti Empress proved to be quite a bargain indeed for Politi and Amoss. Romping by 13 1/2 lengths in the Ellis Park Debutante S. in 2018, the fleet-footed filly ran the field off their feet in that year’s GII Pocahontas S., streaking home a 19 1/2-length winner. Off the board in that year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile FIllies, she returned to winning ways with a decisive score in last term’s GII Rachel Alexandra S., but faded to seventh next out in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks last MArch. Connections discovered that she bled during that effort, but Amoss had confidence she would bounce back fine and trained her up to the GI Kentucky Oaks. Given a 13-1 chance off her Fair Grounds race, Serengeti Empress went straight to the front under Jose Ortiz and proved not for catching, taking home the lilies with a 1 3/4-length score.

Second when cut back in distance for the GI Acorn S. next out, the bay dueled with the equally swift two-time champion Covfefe (Into Mischief) down the length of the Saratoga stretch, finishing a game second in the GI Test S. Off the board in the GI Cotillion S,, she was third in the 2019 GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Serengeti Empress proved equally game in 2020, dominating the GII Azeri S. in her second start this term. Off the board in the GI Apple Blossom H. and GII Fleur de Lis H., the 4-year-old rebounded with a front-running victory in the GI Ballerina S. Aug. 8 at Saratoga and missed by a nose in the Sept. 5 GI Derby City Distaff prior to her effort in the World Championships. Serengeti Empress retires with a record of 18-7-4-1 and earnings of $2,175,653.

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‘The Greatest Gift Ever’: Serengeti Empress Will Conclude Her Career In Breeders’ Cup

Joel Politi's Serengeti Empress galloped one mile on Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs before shipping to Keeneland's Barn 68, where she will prepare for Saturday's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. The Kentucky Oaks champion of 2019 concludes her career in the race.

Trained by Tom Amoss, the dark bay daughter of Alternation has done her best running on the lead, including a gate-to-wire win in the Oaks and a gritty victory in August's Ballerina, her seventh career, sixth stakes and second Grade 1 win. Unraced since a nose loss to Bell's the One in the Derby City Distaff on Sept. 5, she breaks from post seven of nine in Saturday's seven furlong contest.

“I wasn't really too fixated on the post before the draw,” Politi said. “The reality is that (7-5 morning line favorite) Gamine has only shown one style of running, but (Bob) Baffert has said she doesn't have to be on the lead. I don't know what they'll do. All I know is that we're going for the lead. She's done that every time and she can go at a breakneck pace. If someone is going with her, they're on a suicide mission that might tire us all out and a closer wins. I hope that doesn't happen. She'll go as fast as she needs to.”

Politi, an orthopedic surgeon based in Columbus, Ohio, purchased the Kentucky-bred at Keeneland's September 2017 yearling sale for $70,000. Including the Derby City Distaff, she has placed in four G1 races, including last year's Breeders' Cup Distaff behind Blue Prize and Midnight Bisou. One year prior, she was seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Known for her very kind and laid-back personality, Serengeti Empress has coupled said off-track disposition with a fierce will to win when competing. Such has resulted in a considerable following among racing fans.

“She's been the greatest gift ever,” he said. “We've had two years with consecutive Breeders' Cups and all the travel and great races. It's a dream come true having a horse like this, especially for a relatively small owner like me. My kids can go into the stall with her and stand and pet her and she is just a big old lover.

“On Saturday, we will celebrate her,” Politi continued. “She means the world to me and my family, as well as Tom, his career and personally for him. He's with her every day and I know she'll be really missed. I'll still have her and go see her anytime I want. She going to (Spendthrift stallion) Into Mischief and headed back to Taylor Made Farm, where she was born. She crosses so well with so many stallions, so we just hope she passes on her talent.”

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Bell’s The One Nips Serengeti Empress At The Wire In Derby City Distaff Stakes

Serengeti Empress set determined fractions on Saturday in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff Stakes at Churchill Downs, and she nearly pulled off a blazing victory at the site of her 2019 Kentucky Oaks victory, but for the nostril of a late-moving Bell's the One.

Bell's the One, a 4-year-old daughter of Majesticperfection, was unhurried out of the gate by jockey Corey Lanerie while post-time favorite Serengeti Empress got to the rail quickly and ran hard to an opening quarter in :21.95 seconds, chased closely on the outside by Bellafina. The eventual winner remained well distanced from Serengeti Empress through the turn as the leader clicked a half-mile in :43.77 seconds.

Tyler Gaffalione, riding Serengeti Empress in a race for the first time, was riding easily on the leader despite the hot fractions, and her closest challenger at the time, Ce Ce, appeared to be out of range to catch them. However, jockey Corey Lanerie roused Bell's the One to life at the quarter pole, and the filly engaged with the rest of the pack by the three-sixteenths pole.

Bell's the One was up to third by the eighth pole, and Gaffalione had begun to ask Serengetti Empress for more on the lead. The challenger was still a length behind with a sixteenth to go, and the two locked horns as the wire drew close. Trading head bobs at the finish line, Bell's the One won the photo by a nose over Serengeti Empress. Sally's Curlin, also well back early on, closed from the outside to finish third.

Bell's the One completed the seven-furlong race in 1:21.07 over a fast main track. She paid $10.40 to win as the field's co-third choice

The Derby City Distaff was the first Grade 1 victory for trainer Neil Pessin, who saddled the winner for Lothenbach Stables.

Saturday's victory was the seventh win in 14 career starts for Bell's the One, and her third graded stakes win, growing her lifetime earnings to $790,040. She won the G3 Winning Colors Stakes at Churchill Downs two starts earlier, and she took last year's G2 Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland.

Bell's the One was bred in Kentucky by Bret Jones, out of the winning Street Cry mare Street Mate. The winner was a $155,000 purchase by Lothenbach Stables at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton July Selected Yearling Sale.

To view the race chart, click here.

DERBY CITY DISTAFF QUOTES – Courtesy of the Churchill Downs Press Office

Corey Lanerie (winning rider, Bell's the One) – “The race set up just like I thought. I was hoping someone would go with Serengeti Empress. I figured Bellafina would press her and Johnny (Velazquez on Ce Ce) would be sitting third in the catbird seat. I thought she might be hard to get by coming off a 1 1/16-mile race, but my filly has her style. I let her stay back there because I know when I call on her, she has a turn of foot like no tomorrow. When I was three or four lengths behind them, I was pretty confident that I was going to run by them pretty easy, but it wasn't so easy. Serengeti Empress fought back. I actually thought she had gotten the bob.”

Neil Pessin (winning trainer, Bell's the One) – “That was an unbelievable horse race. Tom Amoss and I actually joked before the photo came out that we would take a dead heat. This filly had a great trip once again with Corey (Lanerie). He fits this filly so well. She sat behind that really fast pace and was so impressive. I'm so proud of her and so thankful for the owners.”

“I've been Grade I-placed but have never had a Grade I winner. I've had a bunch of Grade II and Grade III winners. Never a Grade I. I thought I'd gone by her, and then I thought she came back. I wasn't sure if we'd won, second or dead-heated. It was just too close to call. I knew it was pretty close and I didn't know who won.”

“I was happy whether we'd won or lost. Maybe now she'll get a little respect, because she's never gotten it any time she's run. She tries hard every time. The only times she's ever gotten beat, it was my fault. Not hers.”

On Breeders' Cup F&M Sprint: “I think you have to. I think that's your only choice. That will be her next race. We gave her two months between her last race and this one and it's another two months to the Breeders' Cup. She does well with the spacing. It sets up good for her and she's won before at seven-eighths at Keeneland in the Grade II Raven Run.”

Tyler Gaffalione (rider, Serengeti Empress, second) – (Talking to owner Dr. Joel Politi and his family after Serengeti Empress' head-bob defeat): “That was a tough one. I'm so sorry guys. It was a great effort. I feel terrible. I really wish I could have gotten it done for you guys. She kept fighting.”

At the wire: “It was tight. When you're battling down the lane like that — head bob, head bob — you don't really know. You just hope for the best. It just wasn't our day. She goes out there and she does her thing and just keeps fighting. She's a tremendous filly. I'm so happy I got to ride her. They got her today, hopefully we can get them next time.”

Tom Amoss (trainer, Serengeti Empress, second) — “I think the major players attacked us early, earlier than they would have ordinarily done in a race but they knew that she was the speed. That made it really difficult on her and when you're laying back and just picking up the pieces and everyone else is doing the dirty work, that can work to your advantage. It was a great horse race and the winner ran great. Make no mistake about it, I couldn't be more proud of my girl. We didn't get it today but she ran her heart out and we'll get one more chance in November (in the Breeders' Cup) at Keeneland.”

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Serengeti Empress Headlines Derby City Distaff On Saturday’s Undercard

Joel Politi's Serengeti Empress, the 2019 Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner who is coming off a victory in the Ballerina (GI) at Saratoga, heads a field of 10 fillies and mares in the Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs.

The Derby City Distaff will go as Saturday's 12th race with a 5:17 post time.

The 14-race program begins at 11 a.m. (all times Eastern) and will culminate the Derby that is scheduled for a 7:02 p.m. post time.

Other stakes are the Derby Day program are the the 34th running of the $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (GI), the 35th running of the $500,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (GII), the 96th running of the 500,000 Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU (GII) for 3-year-olds, the 29th running of the $500,000 American Turf presented by Smithfield (GII) for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the grass, and the 39th running of the $200,000 Iroquois presented by Ford (GIII) for 2-year-olds going a mile on the main track.

Trained by Tom Amoss, Serengeti Empress has won two of three starts at the 7-furlong distance with her lone loss coming to champion Covfefe in last year's Test (GI). Tyler Gaffalione has the mount and will break from post position eight.

The field for the Derby City Distaff, with riders and weights from the rail out, is: Mia Mischief (Ricardo Santana Jr., 118 pounds), Shesomajestic (Rafael Bejarano, 118), Wildwood's Beauty (Joe Rocco Jr., 118), Bell's the One (Corey Lanerie, 120), Crazy Sexy Money (Crystal Conning, 118), Sally's Curlin (Brian Hernandez Jr., 120), Lady Kate (Florent Geroux, 118), Serengeti Empress (Gaffalione, 123), Bellafina (Mike Smith, 120) and Ce Ce (John Velazquez, 123).

Klaravich Stables' Newspaperofrecord (IRE), winner of the 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GI) at Churchill Downs, heads a field of eight fillies and mares for the Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile.

The Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile is carded as the day's 11th race with a 4:39 post time.

Trained by Chad Brown, Newspaperofrecord returned to the races in June following an 11-month layoff to win the Intercontinental (GIII) and followed that effort up with a front-running score in the Just A Game (GI).

Javier Castellano has the mount on Newspaperofrecord and will break from post position four.

The field for the Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile, with riders and weights from the inside, is: She'sonthewarpath (Chantal Sutherland, 118 pounds), Daddy Is a Legend (Florent Geroux, 118), Juliet Foxtrot (GB) (Tyler Gaffalione, 118), Newspaperofrecord (Castellano, 123), Harmless (Mike Smith, 118), Beau Recall (IRE) (Manny Franco, 118), La Signare (FR) (Ricardo Santana Jr., 118) and Belle Laura (Miguel Mena, 118).

L & N Racing's Echo Town, Maggi Moss and Greg Tramontin's No Parole and Jim and Donna Daniell's Rushie head a field of nine for the Pat Day Mile.

The Pat Day Mile will go as the afternoon's ninth race with a 3:35 post time.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Echo Town comes into Saturday's race off a 3 ¼-length victory in the Allen Jerkens (GI) at Saratoga on Aug. 1. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the call and will break from post position two.

No Parole, winner of the Woody Stephens (GI) at Belmont before faltering as the favorite in the Allen Jerkens, is trained by Tom Amoss. James Graham, who rode No Parole to daylight victories in his first three starts, has the call Saturday and will break from post position seven.

Rushie, third in the Blue Grass (GII) and Santa Anita Derby (GI) in his past two starts, cuts back to a one-turn race for the first time since his debut last October at Santa Anita. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Rushie will be ridden by Javier Castellano and break from post position nine.

The field for the Pat Day Mile, from the rail out with riders and weights, is: Cezanne (Florent Geroux, 118 pounds), Echo Town (Ricardo Santana Jr., 123), Shashashakemeup (Corey Lanerie, 118), Vertical Threat (Tyler Gaffalione, 118), Digital (Brian Hernandez Jr., 118), Tap It to Win (John Velazquez, 118), No Parole (Graham, 123), Sonneman (Manny Franco, 118) and Rushie (Castellano, 118).

Multiple stakes winners Field Pass and Smooth Like Strait top a field of eight entered for the American Turf Presented by Smithfield.

The American Turf is scheduled as the eighth race with a 2:55 post time.

Three Diamonds Farm's Field Pass, a two-time Grade III winner, comes into Saturday's race off a seventh-place finish in the Saratoga Derby Invitational. Prior to that, he had won the Transylvania (GIII) at Keeneland and the Audubon at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Mike Maker, Field Pass will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione and break from post position four.

Cannon Thoroughbreds' Smooth Like Strait has won his past two starts beginning with the War Chant here in May and then the La Jolla Handicap (GIII) at Del Mar. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Smooth Like Strait will break from post position five and be ridden by John Velazquez.

The field for the American Turf, with riders and weights from the rail out, is: Taishan (Julien Leparoux, 118), American Butterfly (Joe Talamo, 118), Sugoi (Joe Rocco Jr., 118), Field Pass (Gaffalione, 120), Smooth Like Strait (Velazquez, 120), Sunsation (Shaun Bridgmohan, 118), King Theo (Corey Lanerie, 118), Fancy Liquor (Florent Geroux, 118).

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