Pizza Bianca will switch to Motion for American Oaks

Pizza Bianca has been traded from trainer Christophe Clement to Graham Motion, at least for the Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita on Dec. 26.

Pizza Bianca was under Clement’s direction for her first eight starts, a time in which she won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar in November 2021 and was third in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at a mile against older fillies and mares at the same venue last month.

Motion has a small stable in California this winter, while Clement is based on the East Coast. Pizza Bianca, who races for owner and breeder Bobby Flay, has stayed with Motion’s California team for the $300,000 American Oaks, which is run at 1 1/4 miles and is the year’s last major race for 3-year-old fillies on turf.

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The plan was in place before Pizza Bianca finished 5 1/4 lengths behind 3-5 Regal Glory at 13-1 in the Matriarch, a race Motion watched with interest since he ran Bipartisanship, who ran seventh at 42-1. Pizza Bianca finished a nose behind runner-up England’s Rose.

“I thought she ran a super race that day against older mares,” Motion said of Pizza Bianca.

Motion said plans for Pizza Bianca in 2023 will be discussed with Flay and Clement after the American Oaks.

Umberto Rispoli rode Pizza Bianca for the first time in the Matriarch and has the mount in what is developing into a tough running of the American Oaks.

Motion will also start Sparkle Blue, who won the Grade 3 Valley View Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Keeneland on Oct. 28. The American Oaks will be her first start in a Grade 1 and first at 1 1/4 miles on turf.

“Distance will help her,” Motion said. “That’s what she wants.”

Joel Rosario rode Sparkle Blue in the Valley View and retains the mount in the American Oaks.

The race is expected to draw the stakes winners Bellstreet Bridie, Mise En Scene, Rhea Moon, Skims, and Sparkle Blue. Stakes-placed Oakhurst and the allowance race winners Lady Clementine and School Dance are also being pointed to the American Oaks.

The American Oaks is one of three Grade 1 races and six stakes on the opening-day program at Santa Anita. There are two Grade 1 races for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs worth $300,000 – the Malibu Stakes and La Brea Stakes for fillies.

The program has three Grade 2 races worth $200,000 – the Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds on turf, San Gabriel Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on turf, and the San Antonio Stakes at 1 /16 miles for 3-year-olds and up on dirt.

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