Serengeti Empress, Ce Ce, Mia Mischief lead deep Derby City Distaff

Serengeti Empress, the 2019 Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner, who is coming off a victory in the Ballerina (G1) at Saratoga, heads a field of 10 fillies and mares in the Grade 1, $500,000 Derby City Distaff on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Tom Amoss, Serengeti Empress withstood fierce pace pressure to win the Ballerina and has won two of three starts at the 7-furlong distance. Her lone loss at the distance came to champion Covfefe in last year’s Test (GI) at Saratoga. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount and will break from post position eight.

She will face stiff competition from three fellow Grade 1 winners. A pair of talented California shippers, Bellafina and Ce Ce, drew directly outside of Serengeti Empress, while track specialist Mia Mischief will likely show speed from the rail. Mia Mischief won this race, which was previously called the Humana Distaff, last year.

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