Andiamo a Firenze back in statebred ranks for Funny Cide
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After weakening in the last sixteenth while finishing a respectable third in the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes here five weeks ago, Andiamo a Firenze will return to New York-bred company on Friday where he figures tough to beat in the $200,000 Funny Cide Stakes at Saratoga.
Andiamo a Firenze, a half-brother to the nine-time graded stakes winner Firenze Fire, beat New York-bred maidens by four lengths at Belmont Park on June 3. In the Sanford here on July 16, Andiamo a Firenze pressed the pace while racing three to four wide, hung with eventual winner Mo Strike until the sixteenth pole and was nipped late for second by Great Navigator. Still, he finished ahead of nine others in a creditable effort.
Kelly Breen, who trains Andiamo a Firenze for Ron Lombardi’s Mr. Amore Stable, said he is hoping to use Friday’s restricted stakes to get the horse back into open company later this year.
“Looking to get him a win, get him back on track,” Breen said. “He ran hard in his last race. He had a beautiful blowout the other day. We’re hoping he’s ready for a peak performance.”
Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Andiamo a Firenze from post 5 in the six-horse Funny Cide, run at 6 1/2 furlongs and carded as race 7.
Acoustic Ave, a son of Maclean’s Music, was a 7 1/4-length debut winner of a six-furlong maiden race here on July 29. Acoustic Ave, owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and trained by Christophe Clement, has to break from the rail under Manny Franco.
Donegal Surges, a son of Candy Ride, won his debut here on Aug. 11 by 5 1/2 lengths for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Donegal Racing.
I’m Wide Awake, 11th in the Sanford following a debut win at Belmont in June; Belt Parkway, a debut winner at Parx on Aug. 3 for owner/trainer Uriah St. Lewis; and the maiden General Banker complete the field.
Seeking the Ante
Impressive debut winners Maple Leaf Mel, Miracle, and Song Parody make up three-fifths of the field entered in the $200,000 Seeking the Ante Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs, which kicks off Friday’s New York Showcase Day program.
Maple Leaf Mel, a daughter of Cross Traffic trained by Jeremiah Englehart for Hall of Fame football coach Bill Parcells, rolled to a five-length victory going six furlongs here on Aug. 10. Her connections acknowledge the 16-day turnaround is a concern.
“She’s doing well, we got a nice work into her, I’m hoping she’s going to run her race, and I kind of got the feeling that she will and hopefully that’s good enough to win,” Englehart said.
Joel Rosario rides Maple Leaf Mel from post 3.
Miracle, trained by Rodolphe Brisset for WinStar Fam and Sienna Farm, won her debut here by six lengths at odds of 14-1 on July 27. While the final time of 1:13.19 seems on the slow side, the track early in the meet was yielding slower times.
“It looks they’ve picked up the tempo on the main track the last two weeks,” Brisset said. “She broke her maiden when the track was pretty slow. I think we’re going to see a way faster time second time out.”
Miracle has come back with two bullet works over the Oklahoma training track, both with jockey Flavien Prat in the irons.
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Brisset likes the outside draw for Miracle, who he believes could sit off of horses if need be.
Song Parody won her debut on June 25 at Belmont by 5 1/2 lengths for Breen. Three weeks later, Song Parody went through the auction ring at the Fasig-Tipton horses of all ages sale, where she sold for $360,000 to a group that included original partner Runnymede Farm as well as Peter Callahan. A daughter of Practical Joke, Song Parody was transferred to Christophe Clement.
Song Parody won her debut from the rail and breaks from that position again on Friday.
“Manny Franco will have to make a decision, not me,” Clement said. “But the horse is quick if he has to use her speed.”
Les Bon Temps, a debut winner against open company for trainer Norm Casse at Churchill Downs, comes out of a third-place finish in the Debutante, also at Churchill.
Lady Mine, third to Song Parody in June, came back to win her maiden at Saratoga by a length on July 15.
– additional reporting by Mike Welsch