Firenze Fire Tops Nerud, Seeks 3rd Straight Stakes Win

As much as top-level sprint stakes can be demanding on competitors, that division has produced two of the most durable and consistent runners currently in training.

You can start with the gelding Whitmore , who at the age of 8 was third in a grade 1 stakes last out. He has started 41 times and is the division's reigning champion and winner of the 2020 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). 

Then there's Mr. Amore Stable's homebred Firenze Fire . He's "only" 6, but has never missed a beat in starting 33 times through his fifth season of racing. A grade 1 winner at 2, he was third in last year's Breeders' Cup Sprint and has displayed no signs of slowing down in his two 2021 starts.

"I believe that right now he's the best he's ever been," owner Ron Lombardi said. "He's in great shape. (Trainer Kelly Breen) has done a tremendous job with him."

Four weeks after winning the True North Stakes (G2) for a second straight year, Lombardi's Florida-bred son of Poseidon's Warrior  will be back in the starting gate at Belmont Park July 4 when he faces six rivals in the $250,000 John A. Nerud (G2) while bidding for both a spot in the Breeders' Cup record book and a third straight graded stakes victory.

With the seven-furlong Nerud part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, offering a free spot in the Sprint to the winner, a victory on Sunday would punch a record-matching fifth ticket to the World Championships for Firenze Fire, tying him with Better Talk Now , Kona Gold, Obviously , California Flag , and Perfect Drift . The Nerud will be televised on NBCSN.

While Firenze Fire probably has enough qualifying points to run in the Sprint after a pair of 2021 graded stakes wins, Lombardi welcomes the chance to have his starting fees and travel expenses picked up.

"Getting the 'Win and You're In' through the Nerud would be very nice," he said.

The 2020 Sprint marked Firenze Fire's best finish at the Breeders' Cup, where he has earned $310,000 of his $2.4 million in career earnings from a record of 33-14-4-3.

"Friends text me and call him 'The People's Horse.' Everyone knows him," Lombardi said. "He's been around for four years, and he may not win every time, but he shows up every time with a good effort. He gives it his best, time and time again."

Judging by his form in his two 2021 starts, the produce of the Langfuhr  mare My Every Wish  seems quite capable of improving on those figures in November at Del Mar.

Aside from winning the June 4 True North by 1 1/2 lengths as an even-money favorite, he started 2021 with a 3 1/4-length score in the Runhappy Stakes (G3) as a 4-5 choice. Both starts were at Belmont, where Firenze Fire captured the 2017 Champagne Stakes (G1) and owns seven wins from 10 starts with earnings of $1,083,000.

One difference from the majority of his Belmont starts was that Firenze Fire was ridden in the True North by Jose Ortiz, who subbed for his injured brother, Irad Jr. Under Jose, the bay horse was asking for more early speed than usual while leading from gate to wire.

"Jose did a great job with him," Lombardi said. "He went right to the lead with him, which is something I always wanted to see since he breaks so well."

With Irad back in the saddle Sunday, if Firenze Fire passes his Nerud test, he'll likely make two more starts before the Breeders' Cup. Options include the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1, July 31 at Saratoga Race Course), the Forego Stakes (G1, Aug. 28, Saratoga), and the Vosburgh Stakes (G1, Belmont fall meet).

Firenze Fire figures to be favored again in a field of seven that also includes two other True North returnees. American Power  was third (3 3/4 lengths behind Firenze Fire) and Wicked Trick  was fourth (beaten 4 3/4 lengths). Multiple grade 1 winner Mind Control , a 5-year-old making his first start for Todd Pletcher after he was previously conditioned by Gregg Sacco, is also entered.

Entries: John A. Nerud S. (G2)

Belmont Park, Sunday, July 04, 2021, Race 10

• Grade II
• 7f
• Dirt
• $250,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 5:44 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Firenze Fire (FL)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	122	Kelly J. Breen	3/5
2	2Mind Control (KY)	John R. Velazquez	120	Todd A. Pletcher	5/1
3	3American Power (KY)	Joel Rosario	120	Rob Atras	6/1
4	4Top Seed (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	Claude R. McGaughey III	12/1
5	5Wicked Trick (KY)	Jose Lezcano	118	Linda Rice	8/1
6	6Three Technique (KY)	Manuel Franco	118	Jeremiah C. Englehart	10/1
7	7Doubly Blessed (KY)	Luis Saez	118	Michael J. Maker	12/1