October, 2020 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Sprint: Breen Believes Firenze Fire Peaking At The Right Time

Mr. Amore Stable's multiple graded-stakes winner Firenze Fire worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 Friday on the main track at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., in preparation for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 7.

“The breeze was very good,” said trainer Kelly Breen. “We'll get at least one more good work into him and maybe a two-minute lick, but that's about it. It's just maintenance stuff now.”

The 5-year-old Florida homebred son of Poseidon's Warrior secured his fifth win at Belmont last out with a prominent score in the G2 Vosburgh that earned a 101 Beyer and an automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup Sprint via the Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” Challenge Series.

Breen took over training duties for Firenze Fire earlier this year and has saddled the horse to a record of two wins from five starts that also includes a score in the G2 True North on June 27 on a fast Belmont main track.

Breen said Firenze Fire is peaking at the right time.

“I hope so,” said Breen. “He just ran his best Beyer for me, so if he can duplicate that or do a little bit better I think we have an excellent chance of winning.”

Firenze Fire, who boasts a record of 29-12-3-2 with purse earnings in excess of $2 million, will have the services of returning rider Jose Lezcano at the Breeders' Cup.

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Performer Returns With Sharp Win; McGaughey Says Cigar Mile Could Be Next

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said he was delighted to see a triumphant return to racing action for Phipps Stable and Claiborne Farm's Performer, who emerged off an 11-month layoff to an effortless allowance victory going one mile over the Belmont Park main track.

The 4-year-old son of Speightstown, who was a last out winner of the Grade 3 Discovery on Nov. 30, 2019, saved ground along the rail and was nudged by jockey Joel Rosario around the three-eighths pole and strolled home to an in-hand 1 3/4-length triumph. He earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure in victory.

“I know it was a light field, but I was pleased with the way he went over there and did it,” McGaughey said. “He was very professional with everything he did. I didn't know what the speed was going to do. I thought the horse to the inside of us [three-time winner Empty Tomb] was going to show more speed. Joel was just patient; he knew what he had and just took it from there.”

McGaughey said he is giving strong consideration to the Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile on December 5 at Aqueduct.

“It would be a big option,” said McGaughey, who won the 1996 Cigar Mile with Gold Fever.

There is a chance that McGaughey could saddle two top-level contenders for the final Grade 1 event of the year on the NYRA racing calendar as W.S. Farish's Code of Honor also is possible for the race. McGaughey said Code of Honor would be more likely for the nine-furlong two-turn G1, $500,000 Clark on Nov. 27 at Churchill Downs.

“Either the Clark [for Code of Honor], or I would run the two in the Cigar Mile,” McGaughey said. “I'd be more inclined to run Code of Honor around two turns. He ran well over that track.”

A two-time G1 winner when taking last year's Travers at Saratoga and Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont, Code of Honor was elevated to second in last year's G1 Kentucky Derby following the disqualification of Maximum Security, who won last year's Cigar Mile.

A direct descendant of undefeated Hall of Famer Personal Ensign and four-time G1-winning millionaire My Flag, who also were trained by McGaughey, Performer is the third progeny out of graded stakes-placed Protesting who also produced turf stakes winner Breaking the Rules. His grandam On Parade was a full-sister to 2002 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Storm Flag Flying.

“They both have distance of ground,” McGaughey said of Performer and Breaking the Rules. “She [Protesting] wanted to run long. She was fourth in three Grade 1 stakes and was second in the Demoiselle at Aqueduct. They're both nice horses, but run on different surfaces. Not that Performer couldn't run on turf, being by Speightstown.”

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Taylor Made’s Steve Avery Named Finalist for Dedication to Breeding Award

Congratulations to Steve Avery, one of three finalists in the Dedication to Breeding Award category of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), presented by Godolphin. The Wisconsin native has been in the horse industry for over four decades and has been part of Taylor Made for the last 20 years. Among the champions he’s raised or managed are Havre de Grace, Princess Rooney, Songbird, and Speightstown.

“His responsibility, his reliability, his work ethic: it’s just phenomenal,” said Taylor Made’s Logan Payne. “Even on vacation, he walks his dog, Henry, up to the barns to check on things.”

Added Dr. Kevin Hyde of Rood & Riddle: “His impact on the industry can be seen through all those he has helped start their careers.”

Click for the video feature on Avery done by TIEA.

Other finalists for the Dedication to Breeding Award are David Kyle of Fasig-Tipton and Helen Otero of Coolmore America, who will be recognized on these pages in the coming days. The Dedication to Breeding Award is presented annually to an individual who has been in the Thoroughbred breeding industry for at least 10 years and is a pivotal part of his or her employer’s success.

A total of seven award categories will be honored by TIEA for 2020. Maria Cristina Silva of New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA) has already been announced as the winner of the Community Award, while the winners in the other categories will be announced live in a virtual ceremony hosted by Jill Bryne and streamed at the TDN homepage Thursday, Nov. 5, at 12:00 p.m. ET. All finalists will be spotlighted in TDN in the days leading up to the ceremony.

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Filly & Mare Sprint: Martin Hoping For Big Farewell Performance From ‘Fresh’ Come Dancing

Blue Devil Racing Stable's Come Dancing worked a bullet five-eighths in 58.80 Thursday on the main track at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., in preparation for the final start of her career in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 7.

Trainer Carlos Martin said the 6-year-old Malibu Moon mare worked effortlessly under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., who guided Come Dancing to a three-quarter length score last out in the G2 Honorable Miss on September 6 at the Spa.

“Everything went great. She worked really, really well,” said Martin. “She went by herself. It was a little quick but we wanted to get a good work into her before we leave next week for Kentucky. Irad let her have a good, strong gallop out with the race about three weeks away. He went out seven eighths in 1:24, but if you had seen the workout you'd have said she was on cruise control. I was happy with how she came back and her energy level is good. I think we're on the right track.”

Come Dancing won 4-of-6 starts last year including scores in the G3 Distaff at Aqueduct, the G2 Ruffian and G2 Gallant Bloom at Belmont, and the G1 Ballerina at Saratoga. She completed her campaign by finishing sixth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita.

Martin said he is hoping a fresh Come Dancing will be ready to fire a big shot in the final race of an impressive career that includes nine wins from 18 starts and more than $1.1 million in purse earnings.

“I think the last race got her back on the right path,” said Martin. “We wanted her a little fresher this year. We skipped the Gallant Bloom, a race I really loved winning last year, but she's a 6-year-old now and I wanted to take her in fresh for her swan song. She runs great fresh.

“For a 6-year-old mare, it's more a mental thing than conditioning,” added Martin. “She gets a lot out of her gallops. I don't think fitness is an issue at all. I just want to keep her happy and wanting to do it on race day.”

Martin said a fresh and happy Come Dancing will breeze again on Friday on the Belmont training track before shipping to Keeneland on Sunday to finalize preparations.

“I've learned over the years, especially with older fillies, you just need to keep them sound and happy,” said Martin. “She knows her job. She's been great for us and I hope she'll put in a great performance for us in the last race of her career. She definitely won't be short.”

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