The money poured in on Joel Politi's Serengeti Empress (Alternation) in the 10 minutes or so leading up to the start of the GII Rachel Alexandra S. at the Fair Grounds, as she tumbled from around 7-2 to be off as the 9-5 post-time favorite. The money proved right on, as the $70,000 Keeneland September yearling, making her seasonal debut and first start since finishing a very well-backed seventh to champion Jaywalk (Cross Traffic) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs Nov. 2, was able to establish a fairly soft lead on a track that was playing kind to speed going both short and long and shot away from her rivals in the stretch to score by 4 1/2 lengths. Liora (Candy Ride {Arg}), a latest fourth to Needs Supervision (Paynter) in the Jan. 19 Silverbulletday S., rallied for second ahead of Eres Tu (Malibu Moon). The Rachel Alexandra offered points along the Road to the Kentucky Oaks on a 50-20-10-5 scale.
There appeared to be enough speed signed on inside and outside of Serengeti Empress, but the chalk jumped straight into the bridle and led into the first turn from the rail-drawn Sandpiper S. romper Molto Bella (Violence) and Liora out three deep. Racing perhaps a touch keen through the middle stages, Serengeti Empress switched off nicely for James Graham to cut six panels in a fairly easy 1:12.45 and it was game over for all intents and purposes. Held together into the lane, she was shaken up with three-sixteenths of a mile to travel and ran out the easiest sort of winner. Positive Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile), the second choice off her win in the GII Demoiselle S. settled about midfield, but called it a day on the turn and trailed in. Needs Supervision raced four deep, no cover on the backstretch, was wide on the final bend and rallied mildly to be fifth.
A debut winner at 1-5 at Indiana Grand on Independence Day, Serengeti Empress was fourth in the GIII Schuylerville S. at Saratoga July 20 before thrashing 10 other juvenile fillies by 13 1/2 lengths in the Ellis Park Debutante Aug. 19. She was in a race of her own in the GII Pocahontas S. Sept. 15, kicking home by a Rachel Alexandra-esque 19 1/2 lengths, but it was back down to earth on Breeders' Cup Friday.
Pedigree Notes:
One of two graded winners for her Pin Oak-based sire and former 'TDN Rising Star,' Serengeti Empress is the lone foal from her dam, a daughter of Argentinian Group 3 winner and UAE Oaks third Love Dancing, who was bought back on a bid of $34,000 carrying the filly at Keeneland November in 2015. Havisham was reoffered back in foal to Alternation at KEENOV in 2016, hammering for $12,000, and produced a full-sister to Serengeti Empress in 2017, her last listed produce.
Saturday, Fair Grounds
RACHEL ALEXANDRA S.-GII, $198,000, Fair Grounds, 2-16, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:44.74, ft.
1–SERENGETI EMPRESS, 122, f, 3, by Alternation
1st Dam: Havisham, by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Love Dancing (Arg), by Salt Lake
3rd Dam: Le Midi (Arg), by Fitzcarraldo (Arg)
($25,000 Wlg '16 KEENOV; $70,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Joel
Politi; B-Tri Eques Bloodstock, LLC (KY); T-Thomas M. Amoss;
J-James Graham. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 6-4-0-0,
$327,870. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Liora, 122, f, 3, Candy Ride (Arg)–Giant Mover, by Giant's
Causeway. ($175,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Coffeepot Stables;
B-Dell Ridge Farm, LLC (KY); T-Wayne M. Catalano. $40,000.
3–Eres Tu, 122, f, 3, Malibu Moon–It's True Love, by Yes It's
True. O/B-Edward A. Seltzer & Beverly Anderson (KY);
T-Steven M. Asmussen. $20,000.
Margins: 4HF, 1 1/4, 2HF. Odds: 1.90, 23.60, 25.00.
Also Ran: Street Band, Needs Supervision, Oxy Lady, Molto Bella, Positive Spirit. Scratched: Bell's the One, Chasing Yesterday.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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