'Plan B' costs favored Serengeti Empress in Apple Blossom Handicap

Trainer Tom Amoss saw Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap from the same perspective as any other racing fan: through a screen from his living room.

And after his star filly Serengeti Empress ran a disappointing 11th as the 5-2 favorite in a thriller won by Ce Ce, Amoss then had to go on live TV and recap her performance.

Amoss worked Saturday as an analyst for America’s Day at the Races, a program produced by the New York Racing Association and FOX Sports. Oaklawn Park’s Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) and Apple Blossom were the featured events of Saturday’s show.

Serengeti Empress, the 2019 Kentucky Oaks winner, entered the Apple Blossom off an Oaklawn victory March 14 in the Azeri Stakes (G2). The 4-year-old faced a tricky draw Saturday from post No. 11, one spot outside fellow early speedster Cookie Dough in the 14-horse field.

Serengeti Empress wasn’t able to clear the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Cookie Dough at the break. Ollie’s Candy also broke like a shot from the inside post, and suddenly a three-way speed duel was underway.

Jockey Joe Talamo and Serengeti Empress were stuck on the far outside of that battle. Running wide through snappy fractions (a quarter-mile in :22.20, a half in :45.51) spelled trouble for the favorite, and Amoss knew it.

“Look, nothing against Cookie Dough,” Amoss said of the filly who faded to finish last of 14. “Cookie Dough possessed the same style we have. Her plan was the same as ours. I think it cost both of us.

“The biggest disappointment was maybe we left a half-step slow and also I would’ve liked to have seen Joe continue to use horse and try to make the lead. I knew after they turned down to the backside, I turned to my wife and daughter and said, ‘We have no chance from here.’”

Serengeti Empress sat second six furlongs into the 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom but gave way coming through the far turn. She sank all the way to 11th, her worst finish since a sixth-place effort last September in the Cotillion Stakes (G1) at Parx Racing.

“When you’re that far wide… we went into the first turn, we didn’t clear, so now you’re losing ground all the way around the turn,” Amoss said. "That’s very, very difficult for Serengeti Empress.

“At one point, Joe just said, ‘I’m not going to make the lead. I’m going to go with Plan B.’ I told him, ‘There was no Plan B.’ So I’m disappointed Joe decided, ‘I’m not going to keep gunning and going’ because we’ve seen this before.

“We saw it in the Cotillion last year. We knew what the outcome would be in that situation. I guess Joe just felt they were going too fast.”

After talking to his on-site assistant, Amoss reported later in the broadcast that Serengeti Empress came out of the race “just fine,” though “maybe a little dejected.” Much of the racing calendar is up in the air right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Alternation filly figures to be a factor wherever the older female dirt division turns next.

“So disappointed but very proud of my girl,” Amoss said. “We’ll be back.”