Firenze Fire | Horse Racing Free Tips

Firenze Fire Sharp In Seasonal Debut, Takes Runhappy Stakes For Second Time

Making his first start since a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream Park in December, Mr. Amore Stable's Firenze Fire tracked pacesetter Chateau through the opening five furlongs, then took command inside the eighth pole en route to a 3 1/4-length victory in Saturday's Grade 3 Runhappy Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., the Kelly Breen-trained 6-year-old Florida-bred by Poseidon's Warrior traveled six furlongs in 1:09.76 and paid $3.80 as the favorite in the field of five seasoned older runners.

Chateau, the 7-5 second wagering choice who set fractions of :22.59, :45.51 and :57.48 under Kendrick Carmouche, easily held second by three-quarters of a length, with Town Classic edging Stan the Man in a photo for third. Drafted trailed the field. Going into the Runhappy, the five runners had each averaged 32 career starts.

“I knew the other horse [Chateau] was going to go and no one else was going to be close with him, so I decided to be close and not have to be in a rush,” said Ortiz. “It's only six furlongs. I didn't want to let him relax too much and then make a run from the three-eighths pole. I just let him be closer and waited as long as I could to start going.

“When I asked him, he responded really well. The tank was full. He kept coming and kept moving forward. He feels great. I think this is going to be a good year for him. He can be right there in the conversation with all the good sprinters.”

Firenze Fire was winning for the 13th time in 32 starts and has won graded stakes at 2, 3, 5 and now 6. This was his second Runhappy Stakes victory, the first coming in 2019 when the race was not yet graded. The Runhappy was upgraded to Grade 3 in 2020 but was not held because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Prior to March 2020, Firenze Fire was trained by Jason Servis, who is now facing federal criminal charges in connection with the FBI probe into racehorse doping.

Since joining Breen's stable, Firenze Fire has won three of eight starts, including a pair of G2 races at Belmont, the True North and Vosburgh Invitational.

“There were a couple other races we could have pointed towards; the undercard of the Derby [G1 Churchill Downs], this race or a race over at Pimlico, but Ron [owner Ron Lombardi] said let's go to his home track at Belmont,” said Breen. “There's no such thing as a soft spot. We locked up Irad [Ortiz, Jr.]. All the things just kept on clicking.

“The horse wintered well in Florida,” Breen added. “They took good care of him. He shipped up here and got to breeze a couple times right out of his stall. We didn't have to ship. Everything worked out to plan and it doesn't always work out that well.

“In the paddock, he looked very picturesque. Maybe a tad bit heavy,” Breen said. “That happens to us when we get older.”

“He broke well. He sat right there and ran a very professional race. The horse that was in front [Chateau] is a nice horse and has been running well and is in form. We're coming off a layoff and I was definitely concerned about him getting away from us, but we showed up.”

Breen said the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar will be the year-end goal for Firenze Fire.

“I'll assume at the end of the year he'll be going to stud, but Ron loves running in the Breeders' Cup Sprint,” said Breen. “One day at a time and I'm happy he came back as strong as he did. He looked great.”

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Chateau Shortens Up To Headline Saturday’s Runhappy Stakes

Michael Dubb's speedster Chateau turns back to a more favorable distance in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Runhappy, a six-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds and up at Belmont Park.

Saturday's card features five graded stakes, led by the Grade 1, $700,000 Man o' War at 1 3/8-miles on the turf for 4-year-olds and upward and is bolstered by the Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan, the local prep for the Belmont Stakes; the Grade 3, $150,000 Beaugay for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16-miles on turf; and the Grade 3, $150,000 Vagrancy at 6 1/2-furlongs on the main track for filly and mare sprinters 4-years-old and up.

Trained by Rob Atras, the 6-year-old Chateau rose to prominence with a solid winter stretch at Aqueduct Racetrack where he posted a record of 2-1-1 from five starts between November and April. His 3 1/2-length score in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap highlighted that run.

With regular pilot Kendrick Carmouche up, Chateau led gate-to-wire in the six-furlong Tom Fool on March 6 to best Wendell Fong. The effort garnered a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

“Kendrick knowing how to ride him really helps,” said Atras. “I've always liked the horse and thought there was ability there. For some reason, we just weren't getting it out of him. I'm glad it finally clicked this winter.”

The Flat Out gelding, who has yet to win past 6 1/2-furlongs, tried to stretch his speed last out in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Carter Handicap on April 3 at the Big A, but faltered to fourth in a race won by Mischevious Alex in a romp.

“He ran one of the best six furlong races of his life last time, unfortunately the race was seven furlongs,” said Atras, with a laugh.

Atras said Carmouche has a solid understanding of how best to ride Chateau. The Big A fall meet-leading rider has guided Chateau through four of his last five starts, including both wins.

“I think he got his confidence back with Kendrick,” said Atras. “Kendrick rode him the one time and liked him and got along with him. He wasn't able to ride him the next time but he did the time following and he won and then he won again.”

Atras said Chateau now has to demonstrate his improved form will carry to Belmont, where the gelding has a record of two thirds from three starts.

“His top races have always been at Aqueduct, so he still has to prove he can run those big numbers against top horses at Belmont,” said Atras. “Hopefully, he puts in a top effort and shows that he can do it.”

Chateau will exit post 3 with Carmouche in the irons.

Mr. Amore Stable homebred Firenze Fire, trained by Kelly Breen, will make his first start since finishing second in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Mr. Prospector at Gulfstream Park in December.

The 6-year-old Florida-bred son of Poseidon's Warrior boasts a record of 31-12-4-3 with purse earnings in excess of $2.2 million. Last season, Firenze Fire won a trio of graded events, including the Grade 3 General George at Laurel Park along with the Grade 2 True North and Grade 2 Vosburgh at Belmont.

Firenze Fire won the 2019 edition of the Runhappy when it was an ungraded event. Irad Ortiz, Jr. retains the mount from post 4.

Misty Hollow Farm's multiple Group 3-winner Drafted, a 7-year-old Field Commission gelding, will look to get back on track for trainer David Duggan.

Drafted enjoyed a profitable 2019 campaign for former conditioner Doug Watson with two wins and a runner-up effort at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, including Group 3 scores in the Al Shindagha Sprint and Mahab Al Shimaal.

Winless in seven starts since the Mahab Al Shimaal, Drafted has made his last three starts at Aqueduct where his best result was a third in the 6 1/2-furlong Gravesend contested on a muddy track.

Last out, Drafted finished an even fourth in the Grade 3 Toboggan at seven furlongs on January 30.

Drafted, racing with cheek pieces off, will emerge from the outermost post 5 under Luis Saez.

Long Lake Stable's multiple graded stakes-placed Stan the Man, a 7-year-old Broken Vow chestnut, sports a consistent record of 8-1-2-2 at Belmont Park.

The versatile gelding captured the nine-furlong Queens County at the Big A in 2019 and last year won the six-furlong Tale of the Cat at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by John Terranova, Stan the Man would relish a sloppy track on Saturday. Through seven starts on wet footing, Stan the Man boasts a record of three wins and three seconds, including a smart allowance win traveling a one-turn mile in the slop at Belmont in May 2018.

Joel Rosario, aboard for the Tale of the Cat score, has the call from the inside post.

Mercy Man Racing's Town Classic will make his 50th career start in search of his first stakes win for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr.

Bred in Ontario by Ballycroy Training Center, the 8-year-old Speightstown gelding has hit the board 35 times with six wins and a remarkable 20 runner-up efforts. Last out, Town Classic finished third for the ninth time when completing the trifecta in the seven-furlong Sir Shackleton on March 27 at Gulfstream Park.

Jose Ortiz will pilot Town Classic from post 2.

The Runhappy is slated as Race 4 on Saturday's 11-race card. First post is 1 p.m.

Belmont Park is now open to a limited number of spectators. All admission must be purchased in advance at nyra.com/belmont/tickets/.

For comprehensive information on health and safety protocols in effect for the Belmont Park spring/summer meet, please visit: https://www.nyra.com/belmont/visit/plan-your-visit.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the spring/summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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‘Being A Homebred Means That Much More’: Lombardi’s Passion For Racing Stems From His Father

Owner/breeder Ron Lombardi will travel from New Jersey to South Florida this weekend to watch Firenze Fire run in Saturday's $100,000 Mr. Prospector (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

The President and CEO of SportsCare Physical Therapy centers in New York, New Jersey and Florida will bring with him a passion for Thoroughbred racing that goes back to his childhood days.

“We had a house in Long Branch, about a mile from the Monmouth. Every Friday night when I was 5-6 years old, we'd get in the car with my dad and uncles and drive from Long Branch to the park to wait for the train to come in so we could get the Telegraph hot off the presses, so they could handicap the night before,” Lombardi said. “Back then, you had to be 18 to get into the track, so me and my cousins would go to Monmouth and stand up against the fence to see the horses run by us. It was a lot of fun. It's been bred in me from way back. I really enjoy it.”

Like father, like son.

“My father had a horse in 1948, He had a heart attack and was told to take some time off from manual labor, so he bought a racehorse. He did that for about a year and a half with my mom. They traveled from Gulfstream to Garden State. They did the circuit and went to Monmouth and through Maryland,” Lombardi said. “The horse paid for them to live for a year and a half and then he went back to work.”

His success in the business world has enabled Lombardi to get involved in Thoroughbred ownership on a much larger scale since claiming his first horse in 2007. His Mr. Amore Stable LLC now has 30 horses in training, 11 yearlings-turning-2 and about 12 weanlings.

Firenze Fire, a homebred, certainly has helped to pay the bills for Lombardi's venture into Thoroughbred owning and breeding. The 5-year-old multiple graded-stakes winner has earned more than $2.2 million during a 30-race career that includes a start in the 2018 Kentucky Derby, a Grade 1 victory, and a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Keeneland Nov. 7.

“Being a homebred means that much more. I buy a lot of horses at auction, but he's a homebred. What he's done is just fantastic — $2.2 million. He's such a solid horse and he always shows up,” Lombardi said. “Even in the Breeders' Cup, he was a [neck] away from second place. I lost him for a second – we were sitting up a ways from the finish line – and I look up and I saw some white silks cross third. I said, 'Oh, could that be us?' It was crazy.”

Firenze Fire is a 5-year-old son of Poseidon's Warrior, a stallion who stands for $6,500, and My Every Wish, a mare who never raced again after being claimed by Lombardi out of a second-place finish in a $16,000 maiden claiming race. The offspring of the bargain-basement mating quickly became a Grade 1 winner in the 2017 Champagne (G1) at Belmont.

“That was a shock. He broke his maiden in June and won the Sanford. We ran in the Champagne and beating Good Magic was unbelievable,” Lombardi said. “He's just been a solid horse. He shows up and gives you everything he has. It's been a dream come true. I wish I had six more of him.”

While Firenze Fire may be a horse of a lifetime, Lombardi is hoping that My Every Wish will continue to be an overachieving broodmare.

“Firenze Freedom is a half-sister,” said Lombardi of the stakes-placed 3-year-old daughter of Istan. “I have a full brother that's in training right now. I have another one in the oven, so to speak, so we'll have another foal who's a 100-percent match. I also have a weanling by Speightstown.”

Lombardi is looking forward to standing Firenze Fire at stud, most likely in New York.

“I was contemplating – depending on what he did in the Breeders' Cup – whether to breed him or continue to run him. I had a lot of interest from people, but to me, it made more sense to run him this year,” he said. “There are not many in his class that are still running. He's got a good following. People love watching him. He tries and shows up every time.”

The Kelly Breen-trained Firenze Fire has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite in a 12-horse Mr. Prospector field that includes multiple graded-stakes winner Diamond Oops, rated second at 3-1, and multiple Grade 1 stakes-winner Mind Control.

“He'll probably run two or three times at Gulfstream,” Lombardi said, “and then we'll probably ship him to New York for the Carter in Early April.”

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Cigar Mile Scratches Resurface in Mr. Prospector

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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