Serengeti Empress, despite breaking a step slow, was hustled to the front by Luis Saez, put away Letruska after a hot half-mile and held off Bellafina to win Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Ballerina Stakes by a length at Saratoga.

Bellafina finished second by 1 1-2 lengths over Victim of Love. Come Dancing, last year’s Ballerina winner, finished fourth, followed by Letruska, Pink Sands and Cookie Dough.

Serengeti Empress, the 2019 Kentucky Oaks winner, won for the seventh time in 17 starts for Joel Politti and trainer Tom Amoss.

Serengeti Empress made the front after running an opening quarter in 21.75 seconds and took heat from Letruska through a half-mile in 43.79 seconds. She put that one away turning for home and held off Bellafina for the win.

Serengeti Empress covered seven furlongs in 1:21.63 and returned $8.30 to win.

Serengeti Empress earned a fees-paid berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 7.

Mike Welsch will have a complete recap later on drf.com