Firenze Fire Dominant in Dwyer Stakes

When Mendelssohn ran on dirt for the first time in the United States, a combination of factors—such as a sloppy track and excessive noise—was offered as excuses for a 73 1/4-length loss while finishing 20th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

When the European-based runner returned to America for his first start since the fiasco in the Derby, the $3 million 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale buy ran into another formidable obstacle.

It goes by the name of trainer Jason Servis.

Mendelssohn pressed the early pace before fading to third as Mr. Amore Stable's Firenze Fire romped to a nine-length victory for Servis in the $300,000 Dwyer Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park July 7.

Servis came into the day with eight wins from his last 10 starters and added to that torrid stretch with Firenze Fire's romp and an earlier graded stakes win by Vision Perfect in the Parx Dash Stakes (G3T).

"He really responded to the freshening," Servis said of Firenze Fire's first race since he finished 11th in the Kentucky Derby. "We have him right where we want him to be. I've been dying to cut him back—just dying. We thought he'd run good."

While owner Ron Lombardi lives in New Jersey and would "love" to run in the $1 million betfair.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) July 29 at Monmouth Park, he said the most likely next target is the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1), a seven-furlong sprint Aug. 25 at Saratoga Race Course.

"We'll see," Lombardi said about his homebred son of Poseidon's Warrior . "The Jerkens gives him a good six, seven weeks off. I'd love to run in the Haskell, being from New Jersey. I was thinking seven-eighths to a mile for his next start, but things could be different after the way he won so easily. Whatever we do, it's going to be fun."

"Unless Ron overrules me, I'm thinking the Allen Jerkens is next," Servis said by phone from Parx Racing. "A mile and an eighth is too long."

The mile seemed a bit long for Mendelssohn, the 3-2 favorite who battled with Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Noble Indy for the early lead through early fractions of :45.98 for a half-mile and 1:09.82 for six furlongs.

"When I saw Mendelssohn battling with Noble Indy, I felt I was in the catbird seat," Servis said.

Mendelssohn put away Noble Indy, who retreated to seventh and last, but he could not repel Firenze Fire. With a strong rally from fifth while four wide, Firenze Fire powered past Mendelssohn at the quarter pole and quickly opened a four-length lead at the furlong pole.

Heavily bet in the late wagering, Firenze Fire was sent off as a 5-2 second choice and crossed the finish line in 1:33.74.

West Point Thoroughbreds' Seven Trumpets grabbed second, a half-length ahead of Mendelssohn.

"It was a good-run race," said assistant trainer T.J. Comerford, who saddled Mendelssohn for owners Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith in the absence of trainer Aidan O'Brien. "Aidan was very happy with him, he watched it at home. He thinks it was a great start since (the Kentucky Derby), and he thinks we can build on it."

Mendelssohn won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) last year, but Comerford does not expect a change of surface or alterations to the long-term plans for the son of Scat Daddy, who is expected to run in both the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) Sept. 22 at Parx and the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs.

"I'd say the Breeders' Cup Classic is still the ultimate goal, but he has a lot of bridges to cross before then," Comerford said. "I thought it was a good run on the dirt. We can't keep stopping and starting. It was a good steppingstone for the next one."

Jockey Ryan Moore said he expects Mendelssohn to move forward off his first race since May 5.

"He ran a nice race for his first run in two months," Moore said. "I expect him to come forward from this today. He was comfortable, he jumped well, and he just felt like he'd improve off how he ran today."

The win was the fifth in 11 starts for the Florida-bred Firenze Fire. Out of the Langfuhr  mare My Every Wish, he increased his earnings to $834,100.

Behind Mendelssohn came Rugbyman, Seahenge, Fixedincome Larry, and Noble Indy.

Video: Dwyer S. (G3)