Serengeti Empress joins the fray for Saratoga's Test Stakes

Trainer Tom Amoss announced Sunday that Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress, defeated last time in the Acorn (G1) on Belmont Stakes day, will remain around one turn in her next start.

The Aug. 3 Test at Saratoga is next on the filly’s calendar, with the Grade 1, $500,000 event also targeted by top sophomores Bellafina and Covfefe.

“We think this is the best path to have an opportunity to use our speed again and maybe sharpen our speed when we go back to two turns,” Amoss said.

Division leaders such as Guarana, who won the Acorn by six lengths after Serengeti Empress set a stifling pace, could then circle back in the Cotillion (G1) at Parx Racing. It’s a “Win and You’re In” event toward the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Amoss’ decision for the Joel Politi-campaigned runner followed a half-mile breeze Saturday at Churchill Downs in 50.80 seconds.

“Yesterday’s track was dull as could be,” Amoss said. “If you’re ever trying to judge how fast or slow a track is in the morning, look at the 5/8s works. Those will tell you, and the 5/8s works on Saturday were disappointing.

“But she did fine. She looked great doing it. It wasn’t her track, but she came back fine.”

As a 3-year-old, Serengeti Empress opened her season with a front-running victory in Fair Grounds’ Rachel Alexandra. She looked en route to a similar score in the next month’s Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) before bleeding through Lasix and forced to stop.

Serengeti Empress returned to form in her last two starts, including the Kentucky Oaks, another race where she set the fractions.

“I’m not going to sit here and tell you she needs to be on the lead in a race like the Test,” Amoss said. “But the idea that she’d be anything but one of the pace setters would be a surprise. She’s got a lot of speed, and she uses it to win races.”