Picco Uno earns 1st stakes win
The 4-year-old daughter of Macho Uno wins by 21⁄2 lengths
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » After putting together a four-race winning streak in allowances, the last two in open company, Picco Uno tried stakes competition for the first time in the Critical Eye Stakes on May 25. Things didn’t work out that day, perhaps because of the sloppy going or the fact she was trying a mile for the first time.
Given time off leading up to Thursday’s $100,000 Union Avenue Stakes, at her favored distance of 6½ furlongs, Picco Uno looked like the same horse who had put together that four-race streak. Tracking pacesetter She’s All Ready into upper stretch, the four-year- old daughter of Macho Uno surged to the front, holding off all comers in winning by 2½ lengths.
The running time over a fast main track was 1 minute, 16.57 seconds.
“It’s very exciting,” said win-
ning trainer Jason Servis. “The owners flew up from Georgia, so I’m glad it all worked out. She definitely benefited from the time off since her last start. She had a terrific breeze the other day. She ran like we were hoping she would. She’s an average-looking filly, but she gets over the ground pretty good.”
Picco Uno broke alertly from her no. 9 post and had no trouble settling into a comfortable spot behind She’s All Ready. And there was plenty of room to operate when Picco Uno made her move swinging into the stretch. The lead was a length and a half at the eighth pole, but there was no serious threat as Irad Ortiz Jr. worked on Picco Uno through the final sixteenth.
“I always give her an aggressive warm- up because she’s the type of filly who doesn’t show much in the morning, and she’s so quiet,” said Ortiz. “But when it’s time to run, she can run. I tried to make sure she was on her game today because she had to run.”
Quezon, the 3-2 favorite, raced wide through the stretch to earn the place. She was followed by Absatootly, Wonderment, Clipthecouponannie, My fourchix, She’s All Ready, Court Dancer and Frosty Margarita.
Picco Uno, who competes for Kennesaw Mountain Racing LLC, won for the sixth time in a dozen starts and has now earned $299,667. She also has three seconds and a third. Picco Uno was bred in New York by Topsmeade LLC and Adena Springs Farm.