Pizza Bianca Back On Top in the Hilltop

[Wandering Eyes]

In an impressive 2021 campaign, Pizza Bianca broke her maiden on debut Jul. 22 at Saratoga and jumped right into Grade I company, finishing second behind Wild Beauty (Frankel {GB}) in Woodbine's GI Natalma S. Sept. 19. That set her up for a run in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar Nov. 5 where she posted a half-length victory. After a five-month layoff, Pizza Bianca returned to be second beaten just three-quarters of a length in the Memories of Silver S. at Aqueduct Apr. 24. Confidently bet at 2-5, she raced sixth into the first turn in the two path several lengths behind pacesetter Murph (Malibu Moon) through an opening quarter in :23.31. Still patiently ridden in the far turn, she started to move along the inside, then switched back out as the field began the stretch drive. With a furlong to run, she drew even with the lead group and easily cleared, still ridden hard to the wire to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Diamond Hands who just beat out Vergara by a head for second.

“[Jockey] Jose [Ortiz] did exactly what we were hoping for,” said Pizza Bianca's owner, Bobby Flay. “She broke; he kind of put her to sleep around the track; asked her a little bit; and she performed very nice. Really, a sigh of relief, but also just a beautiful performance.”

Out of a half-sister to GSW & GISP Dawn Patrol (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Pizza Bianca is the first foal for her dam who has most recently produced a yearling colt by Uncle Mo and birthed a colt by Not This Time in 2022. Click for the Equibase.com chart or Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

HILLTOP S., $100,000, Pimlico, 5-20, 3yo, f, 1mT, 1:36.54, fm.
1–PIZZA BIANCA, 122, f, 3, by Fastnet Rock (Aus)-White Hot
(Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Bobby Flay; B-B. Flay Thoroughbreds
(KY); T-Christophe Clement; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $60,000. Lifetime
Record: GISW, 5-3-2-0, $717,635.
2–Diamond Hands, 118, f, 3, Frosted–Love Cove, by Not For
Love. ($25,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $425,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR).
1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Robert Masiello & Steven Rocco; B-Brant
Laue & Godolphin (KY); T-Christophe Clement. $20,000.
3–Vergara, 120, f, 3, Noble Mission (GB)–Figure of Beauty, by
Street Cry (Ire). ($130,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Gary Broad;
B-Neil Jones (KY); T-H. Graham Motion. $10,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, HD, NK. Odds: 0.40, 7.20, 4.70.
Also Ran: Lady Puchi, Determined Gold, Murph, Hail To, Determined Star.

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