Grade I winners Firenze Fire (Poseidon’s Warrior) and Mind Control (Stay Thirsty) were both scratched from GI Cigar Mile Dec. 5 after heavy rains soaked the Aqueduct main track and will instead start in Saturday’s GIII Mr. Prospector S. at Gulfstream.
A Grade I winner at two, Firenze Fire won several graded stakes during his tenure for Jason Servis and was transferred to Kelly Breen after the former was federally indicted and removed from the racetrack. Fourth in the slop in the GI Carter H. in his first start for his new conditioner June 6, the homebred won the GII True North S. June 27 and was fourth in Saratoga’s GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. July 25. Failing to fire when 11th in a sloppy renewal of that venue’s GI Forego S. Aug. 29, the bay captured Belmont’s GI Vosburgh Invitational S. Sept. 26 and was third in the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint S. at Keeneland Nov. 7.
“Whitmore was able to get through [in the Breeders’ Cup],”owner Ron Lombardi said. “We were just behind him, but it closed up on us and we couldn’t get there. He ran a great race. He always does. He tries all the time. The slop is obviously difficult for him. That’s what led to the decision to skip the Cigar Mile and ship him to Florida.”
After closing 2019 with his second Grade I win in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S., Mind Control kicked off 2020 with a pair of victories at Aqueduct in the GIII Toboggan S. Jan. 18 and the GIII Tom Fool H. Mar. 7. With racing shut down due to COVID-19, he was next seen in the Vanderbilt, where he finished third, and was eighth in the Forego. Third when given a big class break in Monmouth’s Mr. Prospector S. Sept. 12, the homebred could only manage ninth behind the re-opposing Sleepy Eyes Todd (Paddy O’Prado) last time in Keeneland’s Lafayette S. Nov. 7.
“It’s been a little bit of a hard luck year,” said trainer Greg Sacco. “He started out the year super and then COVID hit. The Carter got pushed back and he hit the slop and he hates the slop. We ran him back in the Vanderbilt and he ran super. We were back on track and we hit the slop again. We brought him back to Monmouth to give him an easier race to give him a confidence booster. He got a rough trip that day and got checked back on the backstretch. The race at Keeneland, a horse gave way right in front of him and Johnny [Velazquez] had to snatch him up. We’ve been sort of a victim of circumstances this year.”
The versatile Diamond Oops (Lookin At Lucky) will look to defend his title in this race. Fourth in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. Jan. 25, the gelding was subsequently shelved and resurfaced in a local handicap, finishing second June 13. Back to winning ways in the GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint S. at Churchill Sept. 4, the bay followed suit with a win in Keeneland’s GII Phoenix S. back on dirt Oct. 2 and was sixth in the BC Sprint there.
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