In only her second start, 3-year-old filly Queen Picasso proved a maestro on the turf in catching graded winner American Apple May 27 at Belmont Park in the $175,000 Soaring Softy Stakes (G3T).

The late inclusion of Vadeni at a supplementary cost of €45,000 adds an extra bit of spice to a dish that was already tasty with Bay Bridge and Luxembourg set to clash. Now the May 28 Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) is a race to savor.

The longest shot on the board at 18-1, Award Wanted defeated the overwhelming 1-2 favorite, Morning Matcha, in a surprising upset in the May 27 $150,000 Obeah Stakes May 27 at Delaware Park.

The day will offer six state-bred stakes worth $900,000, headlined by a pair of $200,000 contests in the Critical Eye Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles, and the Commentator Stakes at the same distance.

One Thousand Guineas (G1) runner-up Tahiyra tackles Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) winner Meditate in the Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1) May 28 at The Curragh.

Forte works 5 furlongs in 1:00.44 May 27 at Belmont Park Courtesy NYRA

Irish-bred Viareggio, a stakes winner in Europe, will try to give trainer Brendan Walsh back-to-back wins in the Gamely.

Trainer Phil D’Amato, on a roll with turf runners, has three of the top picks in the Shoemaker Mile (G1T) on Memorial Day, May 29, at Santa Anita Park but experience indicates top-level wins are tough to repeat on this circuit’s turf courses.

Paddington provided trainer Aidan O’Brien with a 12th victory in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) when powering home in the hands of Ryan Moore May 27.

Trainer Todd Pletcher gave a “thumbs up” following a May 27 breeze from Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s champion 2-year-old Forte, who worked five-eighths over the Belmont Park main track in preparation for the June 20 Belmont Stakes (G1).