Serengeti Empress charges into Fair Grounds Oaks

Serengeti Empress went into the Rachel Alexandra Stakes on Feb. 16 at Fair Grounds with just three timed workouts for her first start in more than three months. She came out of it a 4 1/2-length winner, and the 91 Beyer Speed Figure her performance produced is as high as any 3-year-old filly has earned in a dirt race at one mile or longer so far this year.

Fairly light framed, athletic, and a horse that puts a lot into her training, Serengeti Empress didn’t need a lot of work, it turned out, to ace her first test of the season. But what effect that high-level performance had on her remains to be seen. Maybe Serengeti Empress benefited from the start and will show even more March 23 in the Fair Grounds Oaks. Maybe running so fast in her first start following a winter break will leave her vulnerable to regression the second time out.

So far, trainer Tom Amoss has seen nothing to indicate the latter, and signs suggest the former. Serengeti Empress had her first post-Rachel Alexandra workout when she went a halfmile in 49 seconds March 6. She’ll work once more sometime this week and then gallop on March 23 into the Fair Grounds Oaks, where she’s nearly certain to be favored.

“She puts a great deal of effort into her works, and her gallop-out is so strong,” said Amoss, who trains Serengeti Empress for Joel Politi. “Is she going to react, bounce, whatever you want to call it, off that effort? She’s bright, eating, training great, but that’s the mystery of the bounce, which I believe in. I know there’s no real outward communication from the horse. You walk a fine line.”

One thing is certain: Barring misfortune, Serengeti Empress will run March 23 at Fair Grounds. But with two other potential graded stakes starters on that card, Amoss is taking a wait-and-see approach.

Roiland, who closed from the clouds to finish third in the Risen Star Stakes last month, will start in the Louisiana Derby only if Amoss thinks there’s ample pace to afford him a fair chance. If not, Roiland goes to the Arkansas Derby or the Blue Grass Stakes.

“Right now, what I know about the Louisiana Derby is that the top five finishers in the Risen Star are supposed to run. That leaves us with one tactical speed horse and four closers, and that’s not going to be enough for me to go in. We’re not going to run in a paceless race,” Amoss said.

Lone Sailor could start in the New Orleans Handicap, and with news that the colt’s owner, G MB Racing, now is unlikely to have Tom’s d’Etat in that race, the chances of Lone Sailor participating increase. But Lone Sailor also is a deep closer at the mercy of pace (he had none at which to run finishing sixth in the Mineshaft Handicap last month, his 2019 debut), and Amoss won’t be eager to enter Lone Sailor in a race lacking speed.

“We’re not married to anything with him right now, though I will say nobody worked better than him last week,” Amoss said.

Also working March 6 was 4-year-old filly Chocolate Martini, who won the 2018 Fair Grounds Oaks and captured her seasonal debut Feb. 24 in an Oaklawn Park allowance race. Chocolate Martini won’t run in the Azeri Stakes there this weekend, but could start in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom next month, according to her trainer.

Monomoy Girl gets some space

Monomoy Girl, champion 3-year-old filly of 2018, didn’t post a timed workout this past weekend after breezing the three previous Sundays, but trainer Brad Cox said there’s nothing amiss with the filly. Monomoy Girl galloped instead of working and is expected to work again Saturday.

“I just thought I’d give her another week, give her a little more space between her works,” Cox said Sunday. “We’re happy where we are right now, and the plan is to work next weekend.”

Last week, Cox named four races in which Monomoy Girl could make her first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Distaff – the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park, the Doubledogdare and Madison at Keeneland, and the La Troienne at Churchill.

“I’m not ruling out any races, and no plans have changed,” Cox said Sunday.

Bobby’s Wicked One fast again

Bobby’s Wicked One ran his second wicked-fast six-furlong race in a row, clocking 1:09.21 in winning the first race Sunday at Fair Grounds by almost seven lengths. Because the racing surface produced quick times on the card, Bobby’s Wicked One got a 96 Beyer Speed Figure in this secondlevel allowance, down from his 99 in a first-level allowance romp last month. In December, Bobby’s Wicked One finished a competitive fifth in the Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita.

“He’s a tough horse,” trainer Al Stall said. “His appetite is very strong. If we don’t feed him when he wants to get fed, he’ll let you know.”

Bobby’s Wicked One has excelled in six-furlong races, but rather than going to the sixfurlong Count Fleet Sprint at Oaklawn, Stall might opt for the seven-furlong Commonwealth Stakes at Keeneland.

“If he can go seven, it really opens things up,” Stall said.

Stall also reported that Tom’s d’Etat, winner of the Tenacious Stakes in December at Fair Grounds but more recently a distant ninth in the Pegasus World Cup, won’t make the New Orleans Handicap. Tom’s d’Etat developed a hoof abscess that has compromised his training schedule. He will be aimed at the Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Carroll hurt in Saturday spill

Apprentice jockey Declan Carroll fractured his 11th thoracic vertebra in a fall during the first race Saturday at Fair Grounds. Carroll’s father, Mark Casse assistant trainer David Carroll, said that the injury would require rest, but no surgery. Early prognosis suggests Carroll could miss five to six weeks.

Carroll, a 19-year-old who began his professional riding career last fall, won 12 races during his first Fair Grounds meeting. His season ended Saturday when his mount, Emery’s Dream, was badly impeded on the backstretch when eventual winner Andthebandplayedon, ridden by Colby Hernandez, crossed over to make the lead before clearing Carroll and Emery’s Dream, who clipped heels and fell.

Emery’s Dream ran loose, was caught by a track outrider, and walked off the course.

◗ Trainer Vickie Foley said Miguel Mena has picked up the mount on Hog Creek Hustle for the Louisiana Derby.