Firenze Fire Headlines Wide-Open ‘Win And You’re In’ Vosburgh

Six-time graded stakes winning millionaire Firenze Fire will take on five others in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Vosburgh at Belmont Park.

The six-furlong event over the main track is named in honor of the late Walter S. Vosburgh, the official handicapper for the Jockey Club and for the New York racetracks from 1894-1934, and is a Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” event, which offers an automatic entry into the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint on November 7 at Keeneland.

The prestigious race has been championed by all-time greats Bold Ruler (1957), Dr. Fager (1967-68), Forego (1974) and Ghostzapper (2003), while also helping cement Champion Sprint Horse honors for My Juliet (1976), Dr. Patches (1978), Plugged Nickel (1980), Guilty Conscience (1981), Groovy (1987), Housebuster (1991), Rubiano (1992), Not Surprising (1995), Artax (1999), Kodiak Kowboy (2009).

Owned by Ron Lombardi's Mr. Amore Stable and trained by Kelly Breen, Firenze Fire has won four of his seven starts over Big Sandy, including a 1 ½-length score in the Grade 2 True North on June 27 three starts back. During his juvenile season, the Florida homebred son of Poseidon's Warrior bested subsequent Champion 2-Year-Old Good Magic in the Grade 1 Champagne on October 2017 and was a runaway nine-length winner of the Grade 3 Dwyer in July 2018, where he earned a career-best 107 Beyer Speed Figure.

Boasting the highest amount of lifetime earnings in the field with $1.95 million Firenze Fire made a successful 2020 debut with a four-length win in the Grade 3 General George on February 15 at Laurel Park.

Firenze Fire will attempt to make amends after a distant 11th-place finish in the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga on August 29. He breezed a sharp five furlongs in 59.20 seconds over the Belmont Park main track on September 17 in his first move since the Forego.

Jockey Jose Lezcano will have the mount from post 5.

Trainer John Terranova will send out two strong contenders in multiple New York-bred stakes winner Funny Guy and two-time stakes winner Stan the Man.

Owned by R.A. Hill Stable, Gatsas Stable and Swick Stable, Funny Guy was a last out fourth in the Grade 1 Forego on August 29 at Saratoga Race Course, where he finished a game fourth as the lukewarm favorite, beaten 2 ½ lengths over sloppy and sealed going.

“The conditions that day were just horrendous in that rainstorm,” Terranova said. “There was so much water it was like a river down on the inside. He tried to make a couple of moves and didn't get beat far, but it just didn't work out.”

The 4-year-old Big Brown bay has defeated his Empire State-bred counterparts at distances ranging from 6 ½ furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, including triumphs in last year's NYSSS Times Square at Aqueduct and the Albany at Saratoga. He began his 2020 campaign with a victory in the Commentator on June 12 going a one-turn mile over Big Sandy, where he garnered a career-best 101 Beyer and followed with a win in the John Morrissey on July 30 at Saratoga.

Funny Guy has trained forwardly since returning to Terranova's downstate division at Belmont Park, most recently logging a five-furlong move in a bullet 59.66 seconds on September 20.

“The race looked like a good opportunity and I loved his workout the other day,” Terranova said. “He's obviously shown that he's a versatile horse when it comes to distance and he's done well at distances like this one. He's doing great right now and this just seemed like a really good spot for him.”

Funny Guy has shown versatility in distance as well as pace tactics. In the Commentator, he came from five or six lengths off the pace to victory and tracked just a length off frontrunners in his John Morrissey triumph.

“It's hard to say what he'll do from a pace standpoint,” Terranova said. “He's a real smart horse and he just puts you right where he needs to be. He's the type of horse that you can do different things with.”

Jockey Joel Rosario has piloted Funny Guy in his trio of starts this season and retains the mount from post 2.

“Joel knows the horse really well, he knows what he has underneath him,” Terranova said.

Long Lake Stables' Stan the Man arrives at the Vosburgh off a victory as the favorite in the restricted Tale of the Cat on August 20 at the Spa. The 6-year-old son of Broken Vow is in pursuit of his first graded stakes victory but has twice placed against such caliber with runner-up efforts at Belmont Park in the Grade 3 Westchester last May at and the Grade 2 True North on June 27.

“He's a good horse also. He's been a bit of an off-the-pace sprinter and he's able to do a few different things as well,” Terranova said. “The good thing is that both horses are doing really well at the moment.”

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, a three-time winner of the Vosburgh, has the mount from post 3.

Calumet Farm's True Timber has put together a resume which includes eight placings against graded stakes company and lifetime earnings of $1,038,650, but will seek his first stakes win for trainer Jack Sisterson.

The 6-year-old Mineshaft bay was a last out third in the Grade 1 Forego, when matching strides with Complexity in the early stages, but was unable to hold off a devastating late charge from Win Win Win and finished 1 ½ lengths as a 37-1 longshot. True Timber made his debut for Sisterson two starts back when running third in a 6 ½-furlong allowance optional claiming event at Keeneland on July 12 behind next-out winners C Z Rocket and Copper Town.

“Going into the Forego, we didn't think there would be too much speed, we thought Chad's horse [Complexity] would go out there and set the pace,” Sisterson said. “We had the [Grade 2] Kelso [on Saturday, October 3] in mind, but the Vosburgh ended up becoming more of a wide open race so we figured we would give it a shot. I think he's the type of horse that can run over just about anything. He just has a lot of class.”

True Timber has run a respective second and third in the last two runnings of the Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct. Sisterson said he hopes that third time is the charm for True Timber, and that he plans on pointing towards a third attempt in the $250,000 event set for December 5 at the Big A.

“We're targeting the Cigar Mile at the end of the year with him,” Sisterson said. “He's cutting back to three-quarters for this race and may stretch out next time. We'll just see how he does Saturday and take it from there. But for now, the Cigar Mile is the long term goal.”

Jockey Kendrick Carmouche, who piloted True Timber in the Forego, will climb back aboard from post 1.

Woodford Racing's Engage will seek a victory off a nearly 11-month layoff in Saturday's race. Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the son of Into Mischief last saw action in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint on November 4 at Santa Anita, where he was fourth beaten four lengths to stable mate and Champion Sprinter Mitole. Engage will seek his third graded stakes victory having won the Grade 2 Phoenix last October at Keeneland over Grade 1-winner Whitmore and the Grade 3 Futurity at Belmont Park during his juvenile campaign in October 2017.

Jockey Jose Ortiz, who guided Takaful to a 2017 Vosburgh win, will ride Engage for the 11th time from post 6.

Completing the field is Silvino Ramirez's New Jersey invader Share the Ride for trainer Antonio Arriaga.

The 5-year-old son of Candy Ride will attempt back-to-back wins after a wire-to-wire triumph in the Mr. Prospector at Monmouth Park, which he won by 3 ¾ lengths while securing a 104 Beyer.

Jockey Manny Franco will ride from post 4.

The Vosburgh is slated as Race 9 on Saturday's 10-race program, which offers a first post of 1:00 p.m. Eastern. America's Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the 27-day fall meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete America's Day at the Races broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

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Three Title Defenders Headline Nominees To Keeneland’s Fall Stars Weekend

Three defending champions – Uni (GB), Bowies Hero and Engage – are among the marquee names appearing on the lists of nominees to Fall Stars Weekend on Oct. 2-4, opening weekend of Keeneland's 17-day Fall Meet that precedes the Breeders' Cup World Championships at the track. The first post each day of the Fall Meet, which runs through Oct. 24, is 1:05 p.m. ET.

Featuring horses from the nation's leading owners, trainers and jockeys, Fall Stars Weekend comprises 10 stakes, nine of which are graded, worth $3.15 million. Five of those races are Grade 1 events, and nine of them are Breeders' Cup Challenge races that are “Win and You're In” contests that award the winners fees-paid berths into corresponding races for the 37th World Championships on Nov. 6-7.

“Fall Stars Weekend traditionally showcases many Breeders' Cup-bound horses, and this year these stakes take on even greater significance as we anticipate the World Championships at Keeneland,” Keeneland Director of Racing Bob Elliston said. “We value the enthusiastic support of our horsemen and our fans during this challenging time. No doubt, this Fall Meet and Breeders' Cup will look different from previous years, but we are committed to offering the same exceptional racing fans have come to expect from Keeneland.”

Click here for the list of horses nominated to Fall Stars Weekend stakes and their past performances. Here is a look at those nominations:

Opening day, Friday, Oct. 2 – Entries taken Sept. 29

Darley Alcibiades (G1): The 69th running of the $350,000 race for 2-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the main track is a “Win and You're In” race for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) to be run Nov. 6.

The Darley Alcibiades attracted 32 nominees headlined by Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Swilcan Stable's Vequist. Trained by Butch Reid, Vequist rebounded from a narrow defeat in her debut at Parx to win Saratoga's Spinaway (G1) by 9½ lengths.

Another runaway Saratoga stakes winner nominated to the Darley Alcibiades is the Heider Family Stables' Thoughtfully. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Thoughtfully won the Adirondack (G2) by 5 lengths and is unbeaten in two starts.

Also among the nominees are Albaugh Family Stables' Girl Daddy, trained by Dale Romans, and Phoenix Thoroughbred's Crazy Beautiful, trained by Kenny McPeek. They are the 1-2 finishers in the Pocahontas (G3) at Churchill Downs on Sept. 3.

Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2): A total of 34 sprinters have been nominated to the 168th running of the $200,000 6-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up on the main track that serves as a “Win and You're In” race for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) to be run Nov. 7.

Topping the nominees is defending champion Engage, owned by Woodford Racing. Unraced since finishing fourth in last year's Breeders' Cup Sprint, Engage is one of five Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix nominees trained by Steve Asmussen.

Two of the Asmussen nominees are Grade 1 winners at Saratoga this year: Phoenix Thoroughbred III and Three Chimneys Farm's Volatile (Alfred G. Vanderbilt) and L and N Racing's Echo Town (H. Allen Jerkens Presented by Runhappy). For Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Asmussen also trains the undefeated Yaupon, winner of the Amsterdam (G2) in his most recent start.

Four other Grade 1 winners are among the nominees, including 2017 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix winner Whitmore. The $3 million earner, who is owned by Robert LaPenta, trainer Ron Moquett and Head of Plains Partners, Whitmore claimed his Grade 1 victory in the 2018 Forego.

Another previous Keeneland winner among the nominees is Gatsas Stable and R.A. Hill Stable's Vekoma. Trained by George Weaver, Vekoma took the 2019 Toyota Blue Grass (G2) and in his past two starts won the Runhappy Metropolitan (G1) and Runhappy Carter (G1).

Other Grade 1-winning nominees are Maggi Moss and Greg Tramontin's No Parole, winner of the Woody Stephens Presented by Claiborne Farm at Belmont for trainer Tom Amoss, and Dan Agnew, Rodney Orr, Jerry Schneider and John Xitco's Collusion Illusion, winner of the Bing Crosby at Del Mar. He is trained by Mark Glatt.

Wagers: Guaranteed Pick 4 Presented by TVG that includes the two stakes.

Saturday, Oct. 3 – Entries taken Sept. 30

Shadwell Turf Mile (G1): The $750,000 test for 3-year-olds and up attracted 28 nominees for the “Win and You're In” race for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1) to be run Nov. 7.

Topping the roster of nominees for the 35th running of the Shadwell Turf Mile are the past two winners of the race in Bowies Hero and Next Shares plus recent Fourstardave (G1) winner Halladay.

Agave Racing Stable, ERJ Racing, Madaket Stables and Rockin Robin Racing Stable's Bowies Hero is trained by Phil D'Amato. In the Shadwell Turf Mile, Bowies Hero would be cutting back to a mile for the first time since a runner-up effort in the American (G3) at Santa Anita in June.

Next Shares, owned by a partnership that includes trainer Richard Baltas, was fifth in the Tourist Mile at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 7 in his most recent start. Prior to that, Next Shares had troubled starts in the Maker's Mark Mile (G1) at Keeneland and Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Santa Anita.

The respective winners of those two races, Gary Barber's War of Will and Peter Brant's Raging Bull (FR), also are nominated to the Shadwell as is Gary Barber's star mare Got Stormy, who also is nominated to the First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare (G1) and the Woodford (G2) Presented by TVG.

Harrell Ventures' Halladay scored a front-running victory in the Fourstardave for trainer Todd Pletcher, who won the 2005 Shadwell with Host (CHI).

Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1): Grade 1 winners Jackie's Warrior and Dr. Schivel top a total of 30 nominees for the 107th running of the 1 1/16-mile dirt test for 2-year-olds. The $400,000 stakes is a “Win and You're In” race for the $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1).

J. Kirk Robison's Jackie's Warrior has won all three of his starts for trainer Steve Asmussen. The colt debuted in June at Churchill and at Saratoga won the Saratoga Special (G2) and Runhappy Hopeful (G1) by daylight margins.

Red Baron's Barn, Rancho Temescal, William Branch and William Dean Reeves' Dr. Schivel delivered as the favorite in the Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1) for his second victory in four starts. Dr. Schivel now is trained by Mark Glatt.

Also among the nominees is Albaugh Family Stables' Sittin On Go. Trained by Dale Romans, Sittin On Go is perfect in two starts and took the Iroquois Presented by Ford (G3) by 2½ lengths at Churchill on Sept. 5. His sire is Brody's Cause, one of the four Breeders' Futurity winners for Romans.

First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare (G1): Robert LaPenta, Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners and Bethlehem Stables' Uni headlines the roster of 20 nominees for the 23rd running of the $350,000 race for fillies and mares to be contested over a mile on the Keeneland turf course. The stakes is a “Win and You're In” race for the $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) to be run Nov. 7.

Trained by Chad Brown, Uni could become the first runner to repeat in the First Lady. The champion turf female of 2019, Uni was third in her 2020 debut in the Just a Game (G1) behind other First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare nominees Newspaperofrecord (IRE) and Beau Recall (IRE) and then seventh as the favorite against males in the Fourstardave.

Got Stormy has finished in front of Uni in two of their three matchups with the one setback coming in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) that earned Uni the Eclipse Award. Trained by Mark Casse, Got Stormy recorded her first victory of 2020 in the Ladies Sprint (G3) at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 12. In her lone Keeneland start, Got Stormy finished third in the 2019 Jenny Wiley (G1).

Also nominated is Jules Iavarone, Michael Iavarone and Jerry McLanahan's Lady Prancealot (IRE), who won last year's Pin Oak Valley View (G3) at Keeneland before taking the American Oaks (G1) at Santa Anita.

Thoroughbred Club of America (G2): Grade 1 winners Mia Mischief and Bell's the One highlight a total of 17 fillies and mares nominated to the 40th running of the $200,000 dash run at 6 furlongs on the main track. The stakes is a “Win and You're In” race for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) to be run Nov. 7.

Stonestreet Stables' Mia Mischief, third in the TCA last year, won the 2019 Humana Distaff (G1) at Churchill and most recently finished second in the Madison (G1) at Keeneland. The millionaire is trained by Steve Asmussen.

Lothenbach Stables' Bell's the One gave trainer Neil Pessin his first Grade 1 victory when she won the Derby City Distaff Presented by Derby City Gaming at Churchill on Sept. 5. Bell's the One has two wins in four Keeneland starts, including the Lexus Raven Run (G2) last fall.

Woodford (G2) Presented by TVG: The top three finishers from July's Shakertown (G2) and the top two finishers from the TwinSpires Turf Sprint Presented by Sysco (G2) at Churchill on Sept. 4 top a roster of 33 turf sprinters nominated to the 24th running of the $150,000 race for 3-year-olds and up going 5 ½ furlongs over the Keeneland turf course.

Amy Dunne, Brenda Miley, Westrock Stables and Jean Wilkinson's Leinster prevailed in a three-horse photo in the Shakertown over Susan and Jim Hill's Totally Boss and owner-trainer Wesley Ward's Bound for Nowhere. Rusty Arnold trains Leinster and Totally Boss.

Dunne also is a part owner of Diamond Oops, who edged Extravagant Kid by a neck in the TwinSpires Turf Sprint. Diamond Oops, who is also nominated to the Shadwell Turf Mile and Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix, is trained by Patrick Biancone and also owned by Diamond 100 Racing Club, D P Racing and Biancone.

Extravagant Kid, fifth and beaten 1¼ lengths in the Shakertown, is trained by Brendan Walsh for owner DARRS.

Wagers: $400,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick 4 and $300,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick 5.

Sunday, Oct. 4 – Entries taken Oct. 1

Juddmonte Spinster (G1): Champions Monomoy Girl and Midnight Bisou plus Shedaresthedevil and Swiss Skydiver, the 1-2 finishers in the recent Kentucky Oaks (G1), top a list of 24 fillies and mares nominated to the 65th running of the 1 1/8-mile main track test that carries a purse of $400,000. The stakes is a “Win and You're In” race for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) to be run Nov. 7. In 2019, Blue Prize (ARG) won both races.

Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables' Monomoy Girl, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2018, won that year's Central Bank Ashland (G1) in her lone Keeneland start. Trained by Brad Cox, Monomoy Girl has won all three of her 2020 races with the most recent coming in the La Troienne Presented by Oak Grove Racing and Gaming (G1) at Churchill on Sept. 4.

Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing's Midnight Bisou, the champion older dirt female of 2019, already has earned a Breeders' Cup Distaff spot by virtue of her victory in the Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill in June. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Midnight Bisou never has raced at Keeneland.

Qatar Racing, Flurry Racing Stables and Big Aut Farms' Shedaresthedevil has won her past three starts highlighted by a 1½-length victory over Swiss Skydiver in the Kentucky Oaks. Trained by Brad Cox, Shedaresthedevil also would be making her Keeneland debut.

Peter Callahan's Swiss Skydiver finished second against males in the Toyota Blue Grass in her lone Keeneland start. Trained by Kenny McPeek, Swiss Skydiver has four graded stakes victories this year highlighted by the Alabama (G1).

Also among the nominees are Peter Brant's Dunbar Road, winner of the 2019 Alabama; Calumet Farm's Vexatious, who defeated Midnight Bisou in the Personal Ensign (G1) to earn a Breeders' Cup berth; and Paul and Karen Eggert's Ollie's Candy, winner of the 2019 Clement Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar.

Bourbon (G2): Three Diamonds Farm's Fire At Will, winner of the off-the-turf With Anticipation at Saratoga for trainer Mike Maker, tops a list of 40 nominees to the 30th running of the 1 1/16-mile grass test for 2-year-olds. The stakes is a “Win and You're In” race for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) to be run Nov. 6.

Also included in the nominees are the 1-2 finishers in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf (L), Legacy Ranch's Big Fish, trained by David Hofmans, and Altamira Racing Stable, CYBT and Michael Nentwig's Ebeko (IRE), trained by Peter Miller.

Indian Summer (L) Presented by Keeneland Select: Stonestreet Stables' undefeated Campanelle (IRE), already a two-time group winner in Europe, headlines the 27 nominees to the third running of the $150,000 race for 2-year-olds going 5½ furlongs on the grass. The Indian Summer is a “Win and You're In” race for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) to be run Nov. 6.

Trained by Wesley Ward, Campanelle debuted May 31 at Gulfstream Park and from there went on to win the Queen Mary (G2) at Royal Ascot in England and the Darley Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville in France.

In total, Ward trains 11 Indian Summer nominees. Included in that group are Ranlo Investments' Golden Pal, winner of the Skidmore at Saratoga and runner-up in the Norfolk (G2) at Royal Ascot; Breeze Easy's Outadore, winner of the Juvenile Turf Sprint (L) at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 12; and Stonestreet's Wink, winner of the Colleen at Monmouth who was second in the Prix d'Arenberg (G3) at Longchamp in France on Sept. 3.

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