Andiamo a Firenze, Law Professor Pointed to Grade 1s

Mr. Amore Stable's New York homebred Andiamo a Firenze  will look to follow a family tradition when he races in the $500,000 Champagne Stakes (G1) Oct. 1 at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet for trainer Kelly Breen. The Champagne offers a "Win and You're In" berth to the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare (G1) Nov. 4 at Keeneland.

Andiamo a Firenze, by Speightstown   and out of the Langfuhr mare My Every Wish , who previously produced multi-millionaire Firenze Fire , winner of the 2017 Champagne at Belmont Park for now-suspended trainer Jason Servis. Firenze Fire defeated eventual champion 2-year-old male Good Magic   in that year's Champagne.

Firenze Fire, a Florida homebred for Ron Lombardi's Mr. Amore Stable, was conditioned by Breen through the final two seasons of his career.

A Champagne victory would make Andiamo a Firenze and Firenze Fire the first siblings to win the prestigious event since Bold Lad (1964) and Successor (1966), who both were out of two-time champion Misty Morn. 

Andiamo a Firenze will enter the one-mile Champagne off a victory against state-breds in the Funny Cide Presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital Aug. 26 at Saratoga Race Course. Before that race, he ran third in the July 16 Sanford Stakes (G3) at Saratoga and won on debut June 3 at Belmont Park

He has since breezed an easy five-eighths over the Belmont training track in 1:04.12 Sept 17.

"He's doing well, everything's good with him," Lombardi said. "It would be amazing to win it obviously after having had Firenze Fire. It's going to be a difficult race, I'm sure. It's always a tough race no matter what. But he's doing great, and we're real excited for the opportunity."

Another horse headed for grade 1 company is Twin Creeks Racing Stables' Law Professor , who is pointed next to the $500,000 Woodward Stakes (G1), an Oct. 1 race expected to be headlined by the brilliant Life Is Good .

Twin Creeks Racing Stables' 4-year-old Constitution   gelding captured the FanDuel Tapit Stakes at Kentucky Downs on turf after a five-month layoff Sept. 1 while making his first start for trainer Rob Atras.

Law Professor initially raced for trainer Michael McCarthy, for whom he won the off-the-turf Santa Anita Mathis Mile Stakes (G2) in December. Later, he ran second to the San Pasqual Stakes (G2) in February at Santa Anita Park before returning to turf with a fifth-place finish in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1T) at the same track. He completed his time with McCarthy in April with an off-the-board effort in the Oaklawn Mile Stakes (G3).

"His form shows and the way he trains that he's probably equally as good on the dirt or maybe even better—time will tell," Atras said. "Obviously, Life Is Good is probably in a different league but it's $500,000 with potentially one major contender, so we're strongly considering the race. I think the distance is well within his reach."

Law Professor went a half-mile in :51.21 over the Belmont dirt training track Sept. 18 in his first breeze since the Tapit.

The Kentucky homebred is out of the multiple stakes-winning Ghostzapper   mare Haunted Heroine , a half sister to multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Celestine , who won the 2016 Longines Just a Game (G1T) at Belmont Park.