Firenze Fire Scores for Breen in True North Stakes
Image:
Description:
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Firenze Fire wins the True North Stakes at Belmont Park
Mr. Amore Stable's grade 1 winner Firenze Fire picked up his first win under the care of trainer Kelly Breen June 27 at Belmont Park, powering home under Irad Ortiz Jr. to win the $150,000 True North Stakes (G2).
The 6 1/2-furlong event was the second race Firenze Fire has made since he moved to Breen's barn. The 5-year-old Poseidon's Warrior horse was previously trained by Jason Servis, who in March was indicted on federal charges related to the alleged administration of performance-enhancing drugs to horses.
Firenze Fire made one start for Servis this season, opening the year with a win in the Feb. 15 General George Stakes (G3) at Laurel Park. He was fourth in the June 6 Runhappy Carter Handicap (G1) at Belmont, his first start for Breen, but returned in fine form Saturday.
"He's a nice horse. When things click like that, it doesn't get much better than that," Breen said.
"For sure, he needed that last race. I think the track had something to do with it last time out," the trainer added. "He ran fast. He's run fast races before. Hopefully, we can move onward to Saratoga and find a nice spot for him there. The goal is to get him to the Breeders' Cup."
Firenze Fire had regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. back aboard after the jockey piloted runner-up Network Effect in the Carter. Despite the last-out loss, he was bet down to the even-money favorite. Firenze Fire was fourth early as Yorkton led the first half-mile with fractions of :22.84 and :45.85. Ortiz guided Firenze Fire three to four paths out as the field entered the homestretch and powered past his rivals to win by 1 1/2 lengths.
The time for the race run on a fast track was 1:15.53.
"He did everything right. We broke and got into a good position, and I was just waiting," Ortiz said. "Turning for home, I asked him and he responded really well. We were close to the pace, but I just held him together. I didn't want to be fighting, so I just tried to let him relax, and he really responded when I asked."
Stan the Man, Yorkton, Wicked Trick, Diamond King, and Midnightcharly completed the order of finish.
Firenze Fire, a Florida homebred, is the first foal out of the Langfuhr mare My Every Wish. His 3-year-old half sister, Firenze Freedom, placed in the Jan. 18 Franklin Square Stakes. He also has a yearling full brother and a three-quarters brother by Speightstown who was born April 27.
With an 11-3-2 record in 26 starts, Firenze Fire has earned $1,939,250.
Video: True North S. (G2)
Victim of Love Upsets Vagrancy
Already a stakes winner this year, Tommy Town Thoroughbreds' Victim of Love added to her record with her first graded score June 27 at Belmont Park, upsetting the $100,000 Vagrancy Handicap (G3) at odds of 27-1 over grade 1 winner Come Dancing.
Ridden by Jose Lezcano, Victim of Love stalked Jakarta, who set fractions of :22.47 and :45.49 for the first half-mile of the 6 1/2-furlong event for fillies and mares. Come Dancing, the 4-5 favorite, was fourth early and third, 1 1/2 lengths behind Victim of Love, at the half-mile point.
Victim of Love took over in the homestretch, and though Come Dancing surged into second, it wasn't enough to run by. The 4-year-old daughter of Speightstown crossed the wire 1 3/4 lengths in front.
The final time on a good track was 1:16.27.
Victim of Love wins the Vagrancy Stakes
"(Trainer Todd Beattie) told me to break and try to keep her busy," Lezcano said. "She broke a little bit behind, but with a tap on the shoulder, she jumped right there on the bridle. When I asked her, she really took off. My filly kept going the whole way around and never stopped. She gave me everything she had."
Come Dancing was second, 4 1/4 lengths over Pacific Gale, who was followed by Jakarta, Royal Charlotte, and Chalon.
Victim of Love was bred in Kentucky by Daniel Burke out of the Awesome Again mare Spacy Tracy, who won the Top Flight Handicap (G2). She is a full sister to Eight Belles Stakes Presented by Kentucky Trailer (G2) winner Benner Island and a half sister to Iowa Derby victor High North. Spacy Tracy's latest foal, a colt by Honor Code , arrived March 16.
Tommy Town Thoroughbreds purchased Victim of Love for $160,000 from the consignment of Blackburn Farm, agent for Longford Farm, at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The filly, who opened the year with a win in the Jan. 18 What A Summer Stakes at Laurel Park, has a 5-2-2 record from 15 starts and $279,829 in earnings.