Bonita Bianca learns sprint lessons, wins Union Avenue

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Though trainer Jason Servis believes Bonita Bianca is a route horse, he said he’s been training her to sprint.
She’s obviously learned her lessons well.

On Thursday, Bonita Bianca rallied from fourth to run by the pacesetting Swing and Sway and win the $100,000 Union Avenue Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths at Saratoga. Swing and Sway finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of the Servis-trained Picco Uno, last year’s Union Avenue winner who was sent off the 1-2 favorite Thursday.

Wonderment finished fourth while Absatootly was eased.

Bonita Bianca is now 6 for 12 in her career, but 2 for 3 since owners Michael Dubb, Mike Imperio, and Michael Caruso’s Bethlehem Stable moved her from Rudy Rodriguez to Servis.

Bonita Bianca took advantage of a swift pace that involved Picco Uno, who chased Swing and Sway through a half-mile in 44.02 seconds.
Manny Franco kept Bonita Bianca in the clear to avoid getting dirt kicked in her face, something Servis felt inhibited her in a stakes at Delaware Park last time out.

Servis removed the blinkers from Bonita Bianca’s equipment for the Union Avenue. He said that jockey Paco Lopez told him she didn’t like the dirt hitting her in the face in the Dashing Beauty Stakes last out at Delaware Park.

“Paco [Lopez] rode her last time and he was pulling her up turning for home,” Servis said. “He said when he got her out in the clear she took off.”

Bonita Bianca, a 4-year-old daughter of Curlin, covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.39 and returned $9.40 to win.

Servis said Picco Uno “got cooked” with the early fractions “which set it up for the other filly. They complemented one another.”