Serengeti Empress gets stamina test in Pocahontas

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Tom Amoss never sees things through rose-colored glasses. As the trainer of more than 3,500 winners in a career dating to 1987, Amoss brings a stark realism to his profession, casting aside wishful thinking for the sake of maximum efficiency.

That’s why his initial assessments of Serengeti Empress carry particular weight. Amoss speaks in hopeful terms about a filly whose third career start resulted in a 13 1/2-length romp last month in the Ellis Debutante, and even he has a difficult time containing his excitement.

“I really like her,” said Amoss, who will send out Serengeti Empress as the favorite Saturday in the Grade 2, $200,000 Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs. “She’s very smart, one of those rare ones who from the first time she worked I said, ‘This is a really good horse.’ ”

Serengeti Empress, owned by Joel Politi, will break from post 1 when she makes her two-turn debut and faces 11 2-year-old fillies in the 50th running of the 1 1/16-mile Pocahontas, which carries double incentives beyond the purse. It’s a Win and You’re In event toward the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and the first qualifying race offering points (10-4-2-1) toward the 2019 Kentucky Oaks.

Corey Lanerie, ever cognizant of the value of saving ground, has the return mount on Serengeti Empress. “With Corey, you either draw the one-hole or end up there,” said Amoss with a laugh. “Hopefully we’ll have no excuses.”

The Pocahontas represents by far the most demanding test to date for Serengeti Empress, a daughter of the young sire Alternation. Her prime competition figures to come from two fillies exiting a controversial Aug. 19 maiden race at Saratoga, Two Dozen Roses and It Justhitthe Wire, in addition to Saratoga maiden winner Love My Honey and Del Mar maiden winner Splashy Kisses.

Other considerations are Include Edition, runner-up in the Ellis Debutante; Taylor’s Spirit, an unbeaten Iowa shipper with two ungraded stakes victories; and Tapping Pearl, who will be looking to rebound off a ninth in the Grade 3 Schuylerville at Saratoga following a successful Churchill debut.

The balance of the lineup is My Wynter Rose, Profound Legacy, Lightscameraaction, and Saved at Dawn.

The added distance of the Pocahontas is an obvious unknown for Serengeti Empress – and most of her rivals, for that matter – and Amoss has given laser focus to the stretchout ahead.

“Going by her pedigree, her sire did his best going long,” he said. “In her everyday training, she’s handled the transition from being keen and precocious to relaxing and getting comfortable. It’s something my staff has worked very hard to get right and we’re happy with how she comes into this.”

The Pocahontas is carded as the last of 11 races on a Saturday program that starts at 12:45 p.m. Eastern. It’s the anchor leg of an all-stakes pick four (races 8-11) that includes the $100,000 Open Mind (race 8), the Grade 3, $100,000 Locust Grove (race 9), and the Grade 3, $150,000 Iroquois Stakes (race 10). It also ends the 20-cent Single 6 wager (races 6-11) and the late pick five (races 7-11).

The Pocahontas goes at 5:57, allowing plenty of time for football fans to attend the races prior to making the short walk to Cardinal Stadium in time for the 7:30 kickoff for the Western Kentucky-Louisville game. The forecast calls for sunny skies and a high of 88.

Saturday is the first of two programs at the 11-day September meet that will offer four stakes, with the other being a Saturday night card on Sept. 29.