Picco Uno draws clear in Union Avenue Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Picco Uno posted an authoritative first stakes victory Thursday afternoon at Saratoga, drawing off to win by 2 1/2 lengths over the 3-2 favorite Quezon in the $100,000 Union Avenue Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares.

The Union Avenue lost some of its luster after defending winner Hot City Girl was scratched earlier in the day, shortly after which it was reported that she’d been retired due to an ankle injury.

Idle since a poor effort in the Critical Eye Stakes over a sloppy track at Belmont Park on May 29, Picco Uno broke alertly under Irad Ortiz Jr., who has now ridden the daughter of Macho Uno to five consecutive victories. Picco Uno took back and rated off the early pace set by She’s All Ready, easily gained control in early stretch, opened a comfortable advantage, and was not threatened thereafter.

Quezon, second behind Hot City Girl in the 2016 Union Avenue, was bottled up a bit in traffic during the early going before angling wide and finishing willingly to be second-best while never menacing the winner. Absatootly was third.

Picco Uno covered 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:16.57 and paid $9.70.

“We wheeled her back quickly in her last start, we knew it wasn’t the right thing to do, but we took a shot. It didn’t work out, so we regrouped and kind of let her tell us,” said Jason Servis, who trains Picco Uno for Kennesaw Mountain Racing LLC. “She had a terrific breeze the other day, and she ran like we were hoping she would.”

Servis said Ortiz used good judgement taking Picco Uno off the early leaders.

“It looked like he was going to try and go,” said Servis. “He’s riding well. She’s an average-looking filly, but she gets over the ground real good and doesn’t work hard to do it.”