Picco Uno (5) will be attempting to win her second consecutive Union Avenue and appears to be heading into this defense in top form. Picco Uno was one of many horses in the Jason Servis barn that took a giant leap forward off their recent form to win in the early summer months. Sent off at 5-1, she won the Dancin Renee in the style of a 1-5 favorite, dominating throughout while earning a career-best 120 TimeformUS Speed Figure. The major concern for this filly is that she’s often had trouble putting top efforts back to back, so I find her to be a less than reliable favorite. I actually think Picco Uno’s stablemate may be her greatest threat.

BONITA BIANCA (4) showed vastly improved early speed when she made her first start off the layoff – and first start for Servis – in June at Monmouth. She was justifiably sent off as the favorite next time out in the Dashin Beauty at Delaware off the effort. However, things didn’t go as smoothly in that spot, as she moved up on the inside down the backstretch, which was precisely where you did not want to be. The rail was dead on that July 7 card, as almost every horse that raced down there folded up and faded. Bonita Bianca backed out around the turn as if she was going to be another casualty of the rail, but she actually re-rallied once she was steered outside and finished up with interest. Servis has said that he will instruct Manny Franco to keep her outside of horses in this spot, and that seems to be the right strategy for this runner. If she can stay within range of her stablemate early, I think she’s got a legitimate chance to run her down at a far more palatable price.