Firenze Fire Runs Down Stablemate to Win the Gravesend

Trainer Jason Servis earned a 1-2 finish in the $105,850 Gravesend Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack Dec. 22, with Mr. Amore Stable's homebred Firenze Fire getting a head in front of M and A Racing's Happy Farm at the wire.

"The track is playing for speed, and the other horse (Happy Farm) was fast enough to keep going," said jockey Jose Lezcano, who was aboard the winner. "My horse is very classy. He followed the leader the whole way. When I asked him, he went on and did the job. I didn't ask him for too much. I just asked him for enough to win the race."

The pair made a two-horse race out of the six-furlong test from the start, with Happy Farm, ridden by Reylu Gutierrez, establishing the lead. After a quarter-mile in :23.16, Firenze Fire settled just behind the leader, with Wonderful Light just off his flank. As a half-mile went in :45.86, Wonderful Light moved up to be neck-and-neck for second, but Lezcano bided his time aboard Firenze Fire, who closed on the leader only slightly.

It wasn't until the field straightened out in the stretch that Firenze Fire was able to shake Wonderful Light and progress on the outside toward the leader. He was up in the final yards to get his head in front and complete the distance in 1:09.72 on a fast track.

The winner paid $2.70 and $2.10 with no show wagering, and Happy Farm returned $3.50. T Loves a Fight got up for third, 1 1/2 lengths behind the runner-up.

Happy Farm, a March 3 claim by Servis, won his stakes debut in the Dec. 8 Fall Highweight Handicap (G3) and continues to show improvement for his new connections. An awkward step in the stretch run did not look to slow the 5-year-old son of Ghostzapper .

"Happy Farm ran a great race as well. It looked like he jumped the shadow near the finish. He gave a big effort, and it's exciting for him going forward," said Servis' assistant Henry Argueta.

Happy Farm's rider echoed that statement.

"This horse showed a lot of heart against a horse that just ran in the Breeders' Cup in Firenze Fire," Gutierrez said. "I was confident turning for home, and my horse did everything I asked him to, but I guess the classier horse won today.

"I believe he saw a shadow (approaching the wire) because he had a hop, but he never hit the rail. When Jose creeped up next to him, something spooked him, but when I went to my left hand, he regrouped. I don't believe that it cost him."

Firenze Fire is the first foal out of the Langfuhr mare My Every Wish. The Florida-bred son of Poseidon's Warrior earned grade 1 status at 2 when he took the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park over eventual 2-year-old champion Good Magic . Last year, after winning the Jerome Stakes and placing second in the Withers Stakes (G3), he competed in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) but finished 11th.

Now a 4-year-old, Firenze Fire came into the Gravesend off a 4 1/4-length score in the Nov. 27 Fabulous Strike Stakes at Penn National after a trying year racing primarily at the top level. He finished second in the Forego Stakes Presented by Encore Boston Harbor (G1) and the Vosburgh Stakes (G1) before a fifth-place effort in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) behind winner Mitole .

"They both ran excellent races," Argueta said. "For Firenze Fire to come back and fight and win today showed how much heart he has. He ran in the Breeders' Cup, and then we ran him at Penn National, where he won, and to come back and win today showed a lot. He's a good horse, and I'm sure he'll get a nice break following this."