Pica Slew takes the Azaleas

Last updated: 7/10/10 5:54 PM

Pica Slew added another easy
win to her resume
(Jim Lisa Photos)

Terra Di Sienna Stables’ PICA SLEW (Pico Central) was content to
settle into second as Rapport (Songandaprayer) went out to set the pace
in Saturday’s $150,000

Azalea S. (G3) at Calder, but the bay miss easily ran down her rival
in midstretch to pull off the two-length victory under jockey Manoel
Cruz. Trained by Joseph Calasibetta, the sophomore miss moved her Calder
record to a perfect three-for-three while completing the six-furlong
test in 1:11 on the fast main track.

Rapport shot straight to the front when the gates sprung, opening up
as much as a seven-length lead down the backstretch. Cruz didn’t panic,
though, and allowed Pica Slew to settle into stride in second through
quick fractions of :21 1/5 and :44 3/5. Rapport tried to carry her speed
all the way to the wire, but the dark bay was already tiring entering
the stretch. Pica Slew easily overtook her rival on the outside and had
more than enough left in reserve to hold the late rally of Buckleupbuttercup (Najran).

“This filly broke very sharp once again today, but I
was ready to keep her in hand,” Cruz said. “When Rapport went to the
lead very fast I was a little concerned that she wouldn’t stop, but
there was no way I wanted to go with her that fast. ‘Pica’ was
impressive last time out and even more so today.”

Sent off the 2-1 favorite, Pica Slew paid $6, $3 and $2.80 to her faithful
backers while keying the $18.20 exacta and $49 trifecta. Buckleupbuttercup,
winner of the Eight Belles S. (G3) two races back, was also sent off at 2-1 and
returned $3.20 and $2.60. Rapport just lost third by a nose to Bronx City Girl (Yankee Gentleman),
who gave back $3.40 at 4-1. The 8-5-6-1 superfecta totaled $121.20.

Hot Hot Mama (Menifee), Joanie’s Catch (First Tour) and Yournotthebossofme (Johannesburg)
followed the top four under the wire. Nicky Boy (Anziyan Royalty) was scratched.

“When I looked up and saw twenty-one (:21 seconds for the first quarter) I
wasn’t worried about the horse (Rapport) in front not coming back,” Calascibetta
said. “Cruz was just sitting back, sitting chilly. There’s no way anyone was
going wire to wire with those fractions. (Pica Slew’s) last race was so easy she
didn’t have to do too much. Today she showed another dimension — came from off
the pace and learned to pass a horse.

“I’ll discuss (her next start) with the owner (Tom Drier, co-owner of Terra
Di Sienna Stable). The (August 7) Test (G1) is a possibility but the instruction
from the owners is to take one race at a time, so that’s what we’ll do.”

Pica Slew opened her career on the Polytrack at Woodbine and round up sixth
in the My Dear S. last June. She continued to train following that start until
August, then wasn’t seen again until returning to the worktab on April 9 at
Calder. One month later, the bay lass appeared in a maiden at the South Florida
venue and dominated by 10 1/4 lengths. Calasibetta, who had taken over the
training of the three-year-old prior to her return, decided to try her against
stakes rivals again and Pica Slew recorded a 1 3/4-length triumph in the Leave
Me Alone S. last out. With this graded score now added to her resume, the
filly’s record stands at 4-3-0-0, $160,487.

Bred in Florida by Sienna Farms LLC, Pica Slew is out of the unraced Maggie
O’Slew (Seattle Slew), who is herself a daughter of Grade 2-placed Miss Maggie
(Afleet). Pica Slew’s fourth dam is Tinnitus (Restless Wind), who produced 1987
champion sprinter Groovy (Norcliffe) and stakes winner Harbor Springs (Vice
Regent), herself the dam of champion two-year-old colt and sire Boston Harbor
(Capote). Pica Slew has an unnamed juvenile half-brother by Closing Argument as
well as a 2010 half-sister by City Zip.