Weekend Plays: Serengeti Empress fit to win the Azeri

Even without live crowds due tot he coronavirus pandemic, horse racing continues across the country this weekend with several important stakes races lined up on Saturday. Aside from Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds, Oaklawn Park will also offer the Grade 2, $350,000 Azeri Stakes for older fillies and mares and $350,000 Essex Handicap for older horses. Both races will run at 1 1/16 miles on dirt.

In the Azeri, Serengeti Empress headlines again after a runner-up finish in the Houston Ladies Classic to open her season. With a 2020 start under her belt and sharper workouts, can last year's Kentucky Oaks heroine finally return to the winner's circle?

She leads the five selections across Oaklawn, Turfway Park and Santa Anita Park.

Oaklawn Race 9: Azeri Stakes (G2)

Serengeti Empress has not won since May. But there are reasonable excuses for the five-race losing streak.

In the one-mile Acorn Stakes (G1), she ran too fast early by setting early fractions of 21.89 and 43.99 in order to secure the lead.

One start later in the Test Stakes (G1), Serengeti Empress actually gave a winning effort. The only problem is that she hooked up with the eventual champion Covfefe in the stretch run and came up a bit short.

Toss out the flop in the Cotillion Stakes (G1), as she failed to secure her preferred position on the early lead.

As for the Breeders' Cup Distaff, Serengeti Empress found the front but faded to third late behind Blue Prize and Midnight Bisou. Note that Midnight Bisou went on to finish second in the Saudi Cup last month against males.

Serengeti Empress had been getting beat by good horses. Then leading up to the Houston Ladies Classic, Serengeti Empress showed only three timed works, and she appeared to be a short horse in the stretch as a result.

Now look at her improved work tab. There are four workouts coming into this race with two bullets on Feb. 14 and Feb. 29.

Serengeti Empress is ready to win, and a low price is acceptable to take against this field.

Oaklawn Race 8: Essex Handicap

According to TimeformUS' Pace Projector, slow fractions are expected with Pioneer Spirit on the lead uncontested.

Snapper Sinclair, Bravazo and Night Ops are also in the picture.

With Joel Rosario hopping aboard Snapper Sinclair, there is a chance he gets an aggressive ride. Given Snapper Sinclair is in Post 6 and Pioneer Spirit in Post 7, Snapper Sinclair could attempt to float out Pioneer Spirit early.

From there, Rosario might try to secure the lead with Snapper Sinclair or press Pioneer Spirit, making sure he does not slip away easily.

Rain is also in the forecast. Out of Snapper Sinclair's last four races, his best effort came on mud in the local Fifth Season Stakes when he lost by a neck.

At 7/2, Snapper Sinclair is the choice.

Turfway Park Race 9: Kentucky Cup Classic

Although it feels like a long time ago, Blended Citizen once won the 2018 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on this surface. He closed from seventh to take the race.

Two years later, Blended Citizen returns to Turfway. Similarly sitting off the pace is the right idea again, too, as TimeformUS' Pace Projector calls for a quick one. Horses such as Flying Scotsman, Royal Mesa, Somelikeithotbrown and Lanier all offer enough speed to mix it up early.

Blended Citizen's recent form is solid enough, although not spectacular since he switched to the Brad Cox barn. He crossed the wire second Silver Dust in the Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds. The winning horse was disqualified weeks later due to a positive drug test. Blended Citizen also finished second by a head to Pioneer Spirit in the Tenacious Stakes on the same course after closing on the slop.

Three starts ago, Blended Citizen won an allowance optional claimer at Churchill Downs debuting for his new trainer.

He always fires with a respectable effort. Given he owns local Polytrack experience, with the right setup Blended Citizen can win.

Turfway Park Race 10: Bourbonette Oaks

Pass the Plate attempts to amend for her third-place effort in the Shantel Lanerie Memorial Overnight Stakes at Fair Grounds. The race is excusable, as it looks like she moved too soon approaching the far turn before hitting a wall.

In her two previous routes on turf, Pass the Plate broke her maiden at Keeneland and won an allowance at Churchill Downs. Toss out the dirt experiment where she finished sixth in the Silverbulletday Stakes.

Turf horses adapt to synthetic better than dirt horses, which makes the surface switch less of a concern.

According to the Pace Projector, Pass the Plate will get plenty to close into as well. At 4-1 Pass the Plate is worth another bet.

Santa Anita Race 7: Beholder Mile (G1)

Ce Ce had always shown promise last year. She broke her maiden at first asking, before losing to the modestly-talented Lady Ninja by a head in her second start. Afterwards, Ce Ce shipped to Belmont Park and took a shot at the Acorn Stakes (G1). She finished a decent fourth to Guarana and Serengeti Empress after chasing a hot pace and losing ground late.

Off a layoff, Ce Ce returned to win a local allowance optional claimer on Feb. 17. It is notable that she prevailed with total ease under no visible urging.

Perhaps Ce Ce moved significantly forward in her time off?

In this spot, Ce Ce faces some tough horses in Hard Not to Love and Ollie's Candy. But the former makes her two-turn debut, just like Ce Ce, and the latter comes off a layoff. Both of them will attract plenty of money.

As a half-sister to Papa Clem, the 2009 Arkansas Derby (G2) winner, Ce Ce is supposed to handle the one-mile distance. She only faded slightly in the Acorn because of the pace and lack of seasoning, as opposed to the extra ground.

At 4-1, Ce Ce offers the right value, too. She is the main choice.