Andiamo a Firenze cruises in Funny Cide, Champagne Stakes next
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Andiamo a Firenze found New York-bred competition much more to his liking than open company, and now he’s heading back into deep water.
Facing five overmatched rivals in the $200,000 Funny Cide Stakes on Friday at Saratoga, Andiamo a Firenze and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. sat just off a torrid pace and then cruised to victory in the lane, winning by 5 1/2 lengths in 1:18.72 for the 6 1/2 furlongs. The track was rated muddy.
The victory was a “great stepping-stone” to trainer Kelly Breen, who ran Andiamo a Firenze in the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes in his last start on July 16 at Saratoga. The colt ran himself into contention in the stretch, but faded to finish third, beaten 3 3/4 lengths.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better confidence builder,” Breen said.
He’ll need it. Andiamo a Firenze will now be pointed for the one-mile Champagne Stakes, scheduled for Oct. 1 at Aqueduct Racetrack, a Grade 1 race that draws the best 2-year-olds in New York.
“If he didn’t run well here, you probably go in an allowance race,” said Ron Amore, who bred and owns the colt under his Mr. Amore Stable. “Who knows where we’d go. But now we’re moving in the right direction.”
In the Funny Cide, Andiamo a Firenze, who went off at 3-5, let the longshots I’m Wide Awake and Belt Parkway battle it out through the first three furlongs, but he took control nearing the top of the stretch after a first quarter in 21.29 and a half in 44.84. From there, no one threatened him. Donegal Surges swallowed up the faders to grab second, 3 1/4 lengths ahead of Acoustic Ave.
Andiamo a Firenze is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Firenze Fire, also bred and owned by Amore. Firenze Fire, a Florida-bred, used open New York stakes to carve a path to the 2018 Kentucky Derby, finishing 11th in that race.
“I did the New York circuit to make it to the Derby, and everyone said I was crazy to try to get that horse to the Derby,” Amore said. “But I can tell you, if you ever get a shot to get to the Derby, you got to take it. And hopefully I will get a chance to do it again.”