Keeneland | 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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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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Belmont To Keeneland Cross-Country Pick 5 Pays $6,202

The Cross-Country Pick 5, featuring action from Belmont Park and Keeneland Race Course, returned a handsome $6,202.75 for selecting all five winners for Saturday's 50-cent wager, with a total pool of $145,967.

Thinking commenced the sequence with a 1 1/2-length victory in Keeneland's Race 7 for 2-year-old maiden fillies going seven furlongs on the main track. Trained by Graham Motion, the daughter of Nyquist closed strongly coming off the pace, besting Three Tipsy Chix to complete the course in 1:29.66. Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Thinking returned $10 on a $2 win wager.

Belmont took its turn when Lead Guitar strummed along for a three-quarters of a length victory in the $80,000 Floral Park for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going six furlongs on the inner turf in Race 9. The George Weaver trainee rewarded her favoritism by drawing away from Bohemian Bourbon, completing the course on the soft turf in 1:11.45 under jockey Luis Saez. Lead Guitar, off at 2-1, paid $6.40.

Alternating back to Keeneland, Sugoi was the sequence's longest shot, pulling off the upset at 23-1 to win the 1 1/8-mile turf test for 3-year-olds and up in Race 8. Conditioned by Michael Tomlinson, Sugoi took command by the half-mile mark and never relinquished the lead, registering a final time of 1:49.06 under Joseph Rocco, Jr. Sugoi returned $48.60.

The finale of the Belmont card made up the Cross Country Pick 5's fourth leg, with Good Credence a runaway 6 1/4-length winner as the favorite in Race 10 for New York-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. Good Credence, trained by Anthony Margotta, Jr. and ridden by Junior Alvarado, paid $5.60 as the favorite going 1:22.53 in the seven-furlong sprint over Big Sandy.

The sequence's lone graded stakes race closed out the wager, with the favorite Venetian Harbor capturing the Grade 2, $200,000 Raven Run for sophomore fillies going seven furlongs on the dirt in Keeneland's Race 9. Trained by Richard Baltas, Venetian Harbor [$5.20] went gate-to-wire under rider Manny Franco, completing the course in 1:23.03.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on track, on ADW platforms, and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool.

The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.

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Classic: Next Two Works Will Determine Higher Power’s Status

Hronis Racing's Higher Power, third in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), continued his acclimation project at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., on Sunday morning by working six furlongs in 1:12.80 in company over a fast main track.

Working with Mongolian Hero, Higher Power posted splits of :13, :24.60, :36.80, :48.20 and 1:01.20, galloping out seven furlongs in 1:26.60 under Juan Leyva, assistant to trainer John Sadler.

“He seems happy,” Leyva said. “He's got two works left and that will tell us if he is up to running in the Classic.”

Sunday's work was the third this month at Keeneland for Higher Power, who shipped in from Southern California to have plenty of time to settle in at Keeneland before his expected Breeders' Cup engagement Nov. 7.

A 5-year-old by Medaglia d'Oro, Higher Power hasn't won since his upset victory in the G1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar in 2019.

Sadler has two other Breeders' Cup hopefuls on the grounds: Hronis Racing's Chaos Theory for the Turf Sprint (G1) and Paul and Karen Eggert's Ollie's Candy for the Distaff (G1).

On Sunday morning, Chaos Theory worked a bullet half-mile in :47.80 over firm turf with a final quarter-mile in :22.40. It was his first work since finishing fourth in the Woodford (G2) Presented by TVG on Oct. 3.

Ollie's Candy, runner-up in the Juddmonte Spinster (G1) on Oct. 4, is scheduled to work in the next couple of days, according to Leyva.

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