runhappy stakes | 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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Weekend Lineup: Five Graded Stakes At Belmont Saturday

TVG will be broadcasting racing throughout the weekend from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app, which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

“America's Day at the Races” will be live on Saturday, May 8 on FS2 from 2-6:30 p.m. featuring the live programming at Belmont Park, which gets into full swing with five graded stakes. The Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes, the local a prep for the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on June 5, and the Grade 1 Man o' War on turf, will be the highlights of the day. On Sunday, May 9, “America's Day at the Races” will air on FS2 from 12:30-6 p.m. ET.

Saturday, May 8

2:31 p.m. ―$150,000 Grade 3 Runhappy Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Mr. Amore Stable's 6-year-old Florida homebred Firenze Fire, a winner of 12 races and more than $2.2 million, is the 4-5 morning line favorite against four rivals in the Grade 3 $150,000 Runhappy Stakes for 4-year-olds and up at 6 furlongs. Trained by Kelly Breen, Firenze Fire, ridden by the three-time Eclipse Award-winner, Irad Ortiz Jr., is making his 2021 debut. Last year, Firenze Fire won two Grade 2 stakes races at Belmont, capturing the True North in June and the Vosburgh in September. Following the Vosburgh, Firenze Fire finished a fast-closing third in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland. Michael Dubb's Chateau earned his first graded- stakes score in March when the Rob Atras-trained 6-year-old gelding captured the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct. Chateau will try to rebound from a well-beaten fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap on April 3.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL050821USA4-EQB.html

3:34 p.m. ―$150,000 Grade 3 Beaugay Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Three fillies and mares out of last year's Grade 1 Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf ― Harvey's Lil Goil (third), Civil Union (fifth) and Nay Lady Nay (IRE) (eighth) ― will be making their 2021 debuts on Saturday in Belmont's $150,000 Grade 3 Beaugay Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf. Trained by Bill Mott, and breaking from the rail under Junior Alvarado, Harvey's Lil Goil won the Grade 3 Regret at Churchill Downs and the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland last year. Allen Stable's 6-year-old mare Civil Union, a winner five times in nine starts for trainer Shug McGaughey, captured the Grade 2 Glens Falls Stakes at Saratoga and the Grade 1 Flower Bowl at Belmont in 2020. Last year, the Chad Brown-trained Nay Lady Nay won the Grade 3 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes at Monmouth Park and was third in the Flower Bowl.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL050821USA6-EQB.html

4:06 p.m. ―$150,000 Grade 3 Vagrancy Handicap at Belmont Park on FS2

Holly Hill Stables' 6-year-old Pacific Gale leads seven fillies and mares in a wide open renewal of the Grade 3 Vagrancy Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs. Trained by John Kimmel and ridden from post six by John Velazquez, Pacific Gale, third in last year's Vagrancy, has won both her starts this year, taking the Grade 2 Inside Information and the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie at Gulfstream Park this winter. Stepping into graded-stakes company for the first time, the Brad Cox-trained French Empire is also unbeaten this year, coming from off the pace to win her last two starts at Oaklawn Park. Tommy Town Thoroughbreds' 5-year-old Victim of Love, trained by Todd Beattie, is the defending champion, winning last year's Vagrancy by 1 ¾ lengths at 27-1. Victim of Love, who was third, beaten 2 ½ lengths, in last year's Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga, finished second in an allowance optional claiming race at Laurel Park on Feb. 26 in her lone start this year.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL050821USA7-EQB.html

5:12 p.m. ―$200,000 Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Klaravich Stables' Risk Taking is the 7-5 morning line favorite against five fellow 3-year-olds for Saturday's $200,000 Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes, the local prep for the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on June 5. After rocketing down the Aqueduct stretch to win the Grade 3 Withers Stakes by 3 ¾ lengths, Risk Taking will try to rebound off his seventh-place finish in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 3 as the 5-2 favorite. Irad Ortiz Jr., the nation's leading money-earning rider, has the mount from post six. Michael Shanley's Nova Rags, a chestnut son of 2012 Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags, won the Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in February and then was second in Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes , and fourth in the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby for trainer Bill Mott. Recent Hall of Fame inductee Todd Pletcher sends out Overtook, second in the Withers, and Promise Keeper, a 5 ½-length allowance optional claiming winner at Keeneland on April 8.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL050821USA9-EQB.html

5:44 p.m. ―$700,000 Grade 1 Man o' War at Belmont Park on FS2

New York's first Grade 1 turf event of 2021 brings international intrigue to Belmont Park on Saturday as Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith's 5-year-old Sovereign (IRE), winner of the 2019 Group 1 Irish Derby, makes his U.S. debut under new trainer Chad Brown, headlining an eight-horse field for the 1 3/8-mile Man o' War Stakes. Formerly trained by Aidan O'Brien, Sovereign was second by 5 ½ lengths to Enable (GB) in last year's Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. He has not started since finishing third in the Bahrain International Trophy at Sakhir on Nov. 20. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount breaking from post one. Otter Bend Stables' 4-year-old Gufo has a Grade 1 victory among his five wins in eight starts, taking the Belmont Invitational Derby last October for trainer Christophe Clement. He was also a fast-closing third in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby last out on Nov. 28. The Bill Mott-trained Moon Over Miami was third in the Grade 3 MacDiarmida and second in the Grade 2 Pan American at Gulfstream Park in his last two starts. Three Diamonds Farm's Field Pass chased Raging Bull into the stretch of the Grade 1 Maker's Mark Mile at Keenland on April 9, before winding up fourth.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL050821USA10-EQB.html

7:19 p.m. ―$100,000 Grade 3 Santa Barbara Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

LNJ Foxwood's 5-year-old Tapwater is the 9-5 morning line favorite against seven fillies and mares in Saturday 1 ½-mile Grade 3 Santa Barbara Stakes at Santa Anita Park. Seeking her first graded stakes win, Tapwater, a gray/roan daughter of Tapit, is trained by Richard Mandella and will be ridden from post three by Flavien Prat. Tapwater finished fourth, beaten four lengths, in her previous start, the Grade 2 Royal Heroine at Santa Anita on April 3. Canadian-bred Rideforthecause, trained by Michael McCarthy, seventh in the Royal Heroine, won last year's Grade 2 Canadian Stakes at Woodbine for trainer Gail Cox. Madaket Stables, Laura De Seroux, Marsha Naify and Mathilde Powell's Neige Blanche (FR) has raced four times in the U.S. since coming over from France last year, with her best finish being a third in last September's Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA050821USA7-EQB.html

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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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