Mr. Amore Stable's New York homebred Andiamo a Firenze will look to follow a family tradition in the $500,000 Champagne (G1), and Twin Creeks Racing Stables' versatile graded stakes winner Law Professor will likely make his next start in the $500,000 Woodward (G1), both races next Saturday at the Belmont at the Big A meet.
The Champagne offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) in November at Keeneland.
Andiamo a Firenze, by Speightstown and out of the Langfuhr mare My Every Wish, is a three-quarter brother to multiple graded stakes winner Firenze Fire, who won his only Grade 1 race in the 2017 Champagne over the season's eventual champion 2-year-old male Good Magic.
Firenze Fire, a Florida homebred for Ron Lombardi's Mr. Amore Stable, was conditioned by Breen through the final two seasons of his career. A Champagne victory would make Andiamo a Firenze and Firenze Fire the first siblings to win the prestigious event since Bold Lad [1964] and Successor [1966], who both were out of two-time champion Misty Morn.
Andiamo a Firenze will enter the one-mile Champagne off a victory against state-breds in the Funny Cide August 26 at Saratoga Race Course. He tracked a wide third down the backstretch before taking command around the far turn and drawing away to a 5 1/2-length victory.
He has since breezed an easy five-eighths over the Belmont training track in 1:04.12 on September 17.
“He's doing well, everything's good with him,” Lombardi said. “It would be amazing to win it obviously after having had Firenze Fire. It's going to be a difficult race, I'm sure. It's always a tough race no matter what. But he's doing great and we're real excited for the opportunity.”
A four-length debut winner in June at Belmont Park, Andiamo a Firenze stepped up to open company graded stakes level in the Grade 3 Sanford on July 16 at Saratoga. Similar to his last effort, he tracked a wide and close third down the backstretch and appeared poised for victory around the far turn. He battled with eventual winner Mo Strike to his inside down the stretch but gave way past the furlong marker to finish third beaten 3 3/4 lengths.
“We know what happened in that race and we've moved on from it. We're in a much better spot,” Lombardi said.
Twin Creeks Racing Stables' versatile graded stakes winner Law Professor will likely make his next start in the Woodward, a nine-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up, also Oct. 1 at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.
The 4-year-old Constitution gelding captured the mile and 70-yard Tapit off a five-month layoff on Sept. 1 at Kentucky Downs while making his first appearance for trainer Rob Atras.
“I loved the way he was training going into the race but I was very unfamiliar with Kentucky Downs,” Atras said. “He was the first horse I'd ever run there and you never really know how they'll respond to that up-and-down type of course.”
Law Professor, with Julien Leparoux up, attended a swift early pace from third position in the Tapit, advancing two wide into the far turn before making a rail run to victory.
“He showed tactical speed and Julien backed him off the pace and tucked him in,” Atras said. “Turning for home the camera angle changed and it was tough to see if he was making a move or stuck, and then he dropped down to the rail. As they came close to the wire he was in front and got it done. It was cool to win a race there.
Law Professor launched his career with trainer Michael McCarthy, graduating at second asking in a March 2021 one-mile maiden special weight over the Santa Anita main track. He captured a one-mile optional-claimer in November over the Del Mar turf ahead of a half-length score in an off the-turf renewal of the Grade 2 Mathis Mile in December at Santa Anita.
The multi-surface star next posted a game runner-up effort to Express Train in the nine-furlong Grade 2 San Pasqual in February at Santa Anita before returning to turf with a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile at the same track. He completed his time with McCarthy in April with an off-the-board effort in the Grade 3 Oaklawn Mile. Law Professor trained at WinStar before joining up with Atras in June.
Atras said he is confident that Law Professor will be comfortable switching back to the main track for the Woodward in a field likely to be headed by multiple Grade 1-winner Life Is Good.
“His form shows and the way he trains that he's probably equally as good on the dirt or maybe even better – time will tell,” Atras said. “Obviously, Life Is Good is probably in a different league but it's $500,000 with potentially one major contender, so we're strongly considering the race. I think the distance is well within his reach.”
Law Professor went a half-mile in 51.21 over the Belmont dirt training track September 18 in his first breeze back.
“He came out of the last race really good. His energy levels came back real quick,” Atras said. “We gave him a light breeze last week and he handled it real well. We'll breeze him tomorrow or Sunday at the latest and if everything goes well, we'll probably be in the entries.”
The Kentucky homebred is out of the multiple stakes-winning Ghostzapper mare Haunted Heroine, who is a half sister to multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Celestine, who won the 2016 Grade 1 Longines Just a Game at Belmont Park.
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