Tom Amoss was still in high spirits Saturday morning following Serengeti Empress (Alternation)'s 13-1 upset in the GI Kentucky Oaks Friday.
“She just ran them off their feet,” said Amoss. “She took it to them at the starting gate, she just ran them into submission. Even when Wayne [Catalano]'s filly [Liora] was getting to her at the eighth pole and it looked like it was going to be a horse race, 'Serengeti' caught her out of the corner of her eye. She took off again, no one was going to get by us”
Of the late night celebrations, the conditioner said, “I haven't been up like that since I was in college, and I'm 57 years old.”
Serengeti Empress was resting in her stall Saturday morning, but was doing fine.
“No plans have been made beyond this race,” Amoss said. “She's going to get a well-deserved rest between races. What's that mean? Probably nothing in May.”
Catalano reported that runner-up Liora (Candy Ride {Arg}) was also in fine form Saturday morning.
“She ran beautiful, she just got outrun,” Catalano said. “The horse that won beat us a couple of times now, but I thought I was going to win at one point in the race. We're proud of her.”
Catalano added they would take a look at possibly running Liora back in the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. at Pimlico May 17.
“We're going to see, we're going to take a look at everything,” Catalano said
Oaks favorite Bellafina (Quality Road) exited her fifth-place effort in good order and will likely fly back to California Monday.
Trainer Rodolphe Brisset also gave a good report on his charge Positive Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile), who clipped heels and somersaulted just a few strides after the break, tossing rider Manny Franco. Both horse and rider walked off the track sound.
“She's OK,” Brisset said. “She is sound and that's what's important. She will more than likely jog tomorrow if all goes well.”
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