Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Firenze Fire to race at 6, but first comes Cigar Mile
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Barring an unexpected change of heart, Firenze Fire will have a 6-yearold campaign in 2021, owner Ron Lombardi said Sunday.
“I love the horse, I love racing, I’m really not a breeder, although I do have 15 broodmares,” Lombardi said. “I’m in it for the racing and the thrill of it.”
Firenze Fire has given Lombardi plenty of thrills over the last few years, starting in 2017 with a victory in the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park. He has since won 10 additional stakes and run in the Breeders’ Cup four consecutive years, finishing third in this year’s Sprint at Keeneland.
Lombardi hopes for another thrill in Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct, where Firenze Fire is scheduled to complete his 5-year-old campaign.
Firenze Fire is one of seven horses expected to run in the Cigar. He was assigned 123 pounds, which would make him the starting highweight in a field that includes two-time Grade 1 winner Mind Control (121) and Performer (118), a winner of five straight who has raced only once in a year. Mr. Buff (118), True Timber (118), King Guillermo (117), and Bon Raison (116) are the other expected starters.
Firenze Fire’s participation in the Cigar could be contingent on track condition. He struggles over a wet track as was evident in the Forego and Carter – both Grade 1 stakes – earlier this year. There is rain in the forecast Saturday.
“If it’s really a torrential downpour where it’s going to be a sloppy track I may lean toward scratching,” Lombardi said.
After this weekend, Lombardi said he is torn over where Firenze Fire will winter.
Last year, Firenze Fire won the Gravesend at Aqueduct and the General George at Laurel in the winter.
Firenze Fire is trained by Kelly Breen, who has stables in both New York and Florida.
Lombardi is already in Florida and due to COVID-related restrictions said he won’t be returning to New York for the Cigar. Should he scratch Firenze Fire from the Cigar, there are a couple of spots at Gulfstream Park for him, including the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector at seven furlongs on Dec. 19, the Sunshine Millions Sprint at six furlongs on Jan. 16, or the Grade 3, $150,000 Fred Hopper going a mile Jan. 23.
“The money’s a little less but then I’d like to go back up there for the Carter,” said Lombardi, referring to the Grade 1, sevenfurlong race on April 3 at Aqueduct.
Lombardi said if he ran Firenze Fire at Gulfstream he’d get the enjoyment of being able to watch him run in person with friends.
“At least here you can get a beer, make a bet, and have a hot dog,” he said.
Mutamakina finds her niche
Mutamakina, winner of Saturday’s Grade 3 Long Island Stakes, will race in 2021, trainer Christophe Clement said.
Races like the Grade 3, $150,000 La Prevoyante going 1 1/2 miles on Jan. 23 or the Grade 3, $100,000 Orchid going 1 3/8 miles on March 27 will be considered, but Clement said he would like to have a fresh horse for the more lucrative marathon races later in the year.
“The plan is to keep her next year for those races going long on the grass,” Clement said. “We don’t have to over-race her for the winter, just try to campaign her and give her a career.”
Mutamakina ran down her stablemate Traipsing to win the Long Island by three-quarters of a length. Clement said Traipsing also would be pointed to marathon-type races in 2021.
“I thought she ran very well. She found maybe a niche in these races going long,” Clement said.
Feel Glorious, winner of Friday’s Forever Together Stakes for Clement, will get a freshening with the idea of being ready for a return in the spring, possibly starting at Aqueduct, where she is 3 for 3.
City Man, who won Friday’s Gio Ponti Stakes, could wheel back and switch surfaces to dirt in the $100,000 Alex M. Robb for New York-breds on Dec. 12.
Turf will be on softer side
A dozen New York-bred turf runners will get one last chance this year to clear their restricted first-level allowance condition in Thursday’s sixfurlong feature scheduled on the outer course.
Three Outlaws will cut back to his preferred distance and should get a solid pace. The question is what type of ground will he get following an inch of rain on Monday.
“I think he’ll get over the soft okay, but he runs his best races on a firm turf course,” trainer Rob Atras said.
On the Couch finished a nose in front of Three Outlaws going seven furlongs Oct. 24, then finished third in an off-the-turf race here Nov. 14. His lone win from four starts came going six furlongs Sept. 19 at Belmont.
Wild William is a three-time winner, all in claiming races, but looks to have to deal with other speed in this bulky field.
With nine races Thursday, first post is 12:20 p.m.
◗ Jockey Eric Cancel will serve a three-day careless riding suspension Friday through Sunday. The days were handed by the stewards for his ride on Abuse of Power in the 10th race here Nov. 7. Abuse of Power finished second but was disqualified to third for interfering with the third-place finisher Fetching, who was elevated to second.