Andiamo a Firenze Fills Sanford With Emotion

For Ron Lombardi, the $175,000 Sanford Stakes (G3) on July 16 should produce one of his most emotional moments since he embarked in horse ownership about 15 years ago.

Watching his Andiamo a Firenze  run in the six-furlong stakes for 2-year-olds at Saratoga Race Course promises to produce a cascade of emotions and memories, covering the full gamut from joy to sadness.

The New Jersey resident, who races under the banner of Mr. Amore Stable, will be hoping the homebred son of Speightstown   can emulate his half brother, Firenze Fire , a grade 1-winning son of Poseidon's Warrior  who captured the 2017 Sanford at the Spa for Lombardi, his owner and breeder.

It's early in Andiamo a Firenze's career—with just a single start and win to the New York State-bred's credit—but Lombardi says he sees even more talent in his 2-year-old trained by Kelly Breen than Firenze Fire, which is quite a mouthful considering that the older brother earned $2.7 million before heading to Japan as a stallion.

"I think he's a step above Firenze Fire, which is a lot to ask. But, so far, what I am hearing from the barn is that he does everything right and does it easily," Lombardi said. "He's very mature in the paddock and hopefully on Saturday he can follow in his brother's footsteps."

Yet at the same time there might be tears as Lombardi remembers what will always link both horses. Each was a son of the Langfuhr mare My Every Wish, who passed away about four weeks ago due to complications after delivering a daughter by Honest Mischief   named Blakely's Wish.

"That was so sad and such a huge loss," Lombardi said. "She was unbelievable with the horses she gave us."

Though winless in two starts, My Every Wish made dreams come true in the breeding shed. 

Firenze Fire was her first of six foals and won 14 of 38 starts, earning $2,730,350 while winning the 2017 Champagne Stakes (G1) and making five starts (2017-21) in the Breeders' Cup.

Her second foal, Firenze Freedom  (Istan ), was third in the 2020 Franklin Square Stakes and was fourth in a May 8 allowance optional claiming race at Monmouth Park in her lone 2022 start. She is expected to run again July 23 at the Jersey Shore track.

Her 2019 foal, Just Leo , a full brother to Firenze Fire, won two of five starts and will be a stallion for Lombardi at Waldorf Farm in New York.

"Hopefully some lightning will strike with him as a sire," Lombardi said. "He has the pedigree."

My Every Wish also delivered a yearling full brother to Firenze Fire in Fuji Fire as well as the Honest Mischief filly named Blakely's Wish before her tragic passing. Her foals, as well as those from Ju Ju Eyeballs, which includes the homebred stakes-winning November Rein , a Street Boss   3-year-old filly who is a possibility for the Longines Test Stakes (G1) at the Spa, have opened Lombardi's eyes to the benefit of breeding-to-race.

"I never thought I would become involved in breeding. I originally thought if I could have 3-to-5 horses it would be amazing, but now I have 23 horses and some broodmares," he said. "There's a little more enjoyment with a homebred and it can be cheaper than buying a horse, but winning is still the main thing. That's what matters most and is the most fun."

Andiamo a Firenze provided Lombardi with quite a thrill when he posted a four-length victory on a sloppy track in a June 3 maiden race for New York State-breds at Belmont Park. The toteboard, where the 2-year-old whose name is Italian for "Let's Go to Florence" was a chalky 4-5 favorite, reflected the high expectations for Firenze Fire's kid brother.

"The word was out on him and he won easy," Lombardi said. "We'll see if he can do it again Saturday. We know it will be a tough race, but hopefully it works out."

Irad Ortiz Jr. rode Lombardi's 2-year-old in his debut, but will be aboard Forte  for trainer Todd Pletcher on Saturday. Breen has lined up Jose Ortiz to take over for his brother in a move that came as no surprise to Lombardi.

"Jose texted Kelly after (Andiamo a Firenze)'s first race that if his brother couldn't ride Andiamo a Firenze, he would," Lombardi said.