Queen Picasso makes the grade in the Soaring Softly (Chelsea Durand)
NYRA Press Office
ELMONT, N.Y.— Siena Farm, Michael E. Kisber, Peter Deutsch, and The Elkstone Group’s Queen Picasso earned a career-best 78 Beyer Speed Figure when cutting back to seven furlongs to capture Saturday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Soaring Softly over Belmont Park’s Widener turf course.
Queen Picasso, a bay Kingman filly, entered the sprint for sophomore fillies off a debut triumph on March 5 going 1 1/16 miles over the Gulfstream Park turf, defeating next-out winner Soviet Excess while utilizing pace-pressing tactics from second down the backstretch. The pair battled down the stretch with Queen Picasso winning by a half-length.
Queen Picasso had a similar trip in the Soaring Softly, closely tracking the early foot of the Eric Cancel-piloted American Apple before matching strides with the Grade 3 Matron winner in upper stretch and kicking clear in the final furlong to a two-length score. Jockey Jose Ortiz was aboard for both wins.
Trainer Christophe Clement reported that his newly minted graded stakes winner emerged from her victory in good order, and will likely see added ground in her near future.
“She showed speed in her training, so it was fun to try her back going seven-eighths,” Clement said. “Because of the program, we’ll probably have to go back to a mile. I have time to talk to [racing manager] Bradley Weisbord and then we can go from there.”
Viable options at one mile for Queen Picasso include the $150,000 Wild Applause on June 24 at Belmont and/or the Grade 3, $175,000 Lake George on July 21 at Saratoga Race Course.
Clement praised Ortiz for a well-executed ride.
“He didn’t want Cancel to steal the race and get away,” Clement said. “She was always comfortable and she was always moving well.”
Bred in Great Britain by D. Farrington and Canning Downs, Queen Picasso is out of the group-placed Danroad mare Aris, whose dam Cumbres is a half-sister to 1999 European Champion 3-Year-Old Montjeu. She was bought for $285,241 at the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
Clement doubled up on Saturday stakes scores when Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Steven Rocco and William Branch’s Big Everest captured his fourth straight win in the Cliff Hanger over the Monmouth Park turf.
The gelded son of The Gurkha entered the 1 1/16-mile Cliff Hanger off a triumphant 5-year-old debut in the Danger’s Hour on April 15 at Aqueduct Racetrack, where he held off a late rally from next out stakes winner Anaconda to win by a nose. He completed his 2022 season with a win in the November 13 Artie Schiller at the Big A.
“He keeps winning, I like that,” said Clement, who added that no plans have yet been determined for his next start.
Big Everest, bred in Great Britain by Newsells Park Stud, is out of the graded stakes-placed Whywhywhy mare Long Face. He was bought for $322,413 at the Goffs Arqana 2020 Breeze Up Sale.
