BONITA BIANCA ROLLS LATE IN UNION AVENUE
SARATOGASPRINGS, N.Y. » Yes, as the saying goes, “speed kills” in racing. Sometimes, though, the casualties end up being the speed horses themselves.
The latest example oc- curred in Thursday’s $ 100,000 Union Avenue Stakes, when longshot Swing and Sway (7-1) and odds- on choice Picco Uno (1-2) ripped through a half-mile in 44 flat, setting the table for Bonita Bianca (7-2). With ground still to be made up at the eighth pole, the 4-year- old Curlin filly rolled by the two pace- setters with the greatest of ease in the final sixteenth to prevail by a length and a half. Swing and Sway was second.
“They were moving really fast early up front,” said trainer Jason Servis, who conditions both Bonita Bianca and Picco Uno. “The fractions they were putting up kind of
compromised Picco Uno, but it certainly benefitted Bonita Bianca. The only instructions I had for [winning rider] Manny [Franco] was that she didn’t like to get hit in the face with dirt. In her last start at Delaware, she really ran when she was wheeled out, and today she got the perfect set-up. It was a nice win for her.”
Bonita Bianca was two lengths back after the blistering half. Approaching the quarter-pole, Franco sent his mount three-wide, and she reached contention as the field straightened out. Making up ground slowly at first, she shifted into another gear in mid-stretch and cruised by the leaders.
“I was happy where I was,” said Franco, who was riding Bonita Bianco for the first time. “I knew they were going fast up front. I just took my time, and when the time came, I let her run.
“I think the distance fits her really good,” Franco added. “She showed she belongs here. She’s a nice filly, and she did it today.”
Picco Uno finished 1½ lengths behind Swing and Sway for the show spot. Wonderment and Absatootly also ran. The running time for 6 ½ furlongs over a fast main track was 1:15.39.
Bonita Bianca, who was bred in New York by Dormellito Stud, races for Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables and Michael Imperio. With Thursday’s win, her record improves to 6-1-2 in a dozen starts, with lifetime earnings of $470,917.