Firenze Fire can clinch Derby berth in Gotham

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – As a Kentucky Derby prospect, Firenze Fire still has questions to answer, most notably his ability to successfully navigate the 1 1/4-mile distance of the world’s most famous horse race.

As a Gotham candidate, Firenze Fire fits perfectly as he is 2 for 2 at the race’s one-turn mile configuration, including victories in the Grade 1 Champagne at 2 and the listed Jerome in January.

Saturday, in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham at Aqueduct, Firenze Fire will hope to use his prowess at a mile to solidify his spot in the starting gate for the May 5 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

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Firenze Fire already has earned 24 qualifying points to the Derby under the system Churchill Downs uses to determine the field in the likely event the race attracts more than 20 entrants. The Gotham offers 85 points to its top four finishers (50-20-10-5). Thus, a first- or second-place finish in the Gotham should assure Firenze Fire’s spot in Louisville.

Firenze Fire, a homebred son of Poseidon’s Warrior owned by Ron Lombardi’s Mr. Amore Stable and trained by Jason Servis, comes off a second-place finish behind Avery Island in the Withers, a two-turn, 1 1/8-mile race on Feb. 3. He was running back three weeks off a hard-fought Jerome victory and was a bit rank early on under Trevor McCarthy.

Saturday, Servis is reuniting Firenze Fire with Manny Franco, who got the colt to settle behind a slow pace and come with a run in the Jerome.

“Hopefully, he relaxes a little bit,” Servis said. “I’d like to see him settle in somewhere. I’ll leave it up to Manny where he puts him.”

Servis also will send out Dial Operator, who has overcome slow breaks in both career starts to win in eye-catching fashion. He stretches out to a mile from 5 1/2 furlongs.

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The competition in the Gotham includes Free Drop Billy, winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity last October at Keeneland, and Enticed, winner of the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club last November at Churchill Downs. Though both cross-entered in Saturday’s Tampa Bay Derby, they both arrived in New York on Thursday afternoon following a Tex Sutton flight that had been delayed by one day due to weather. Also on that flight were Gotham longshots Whereshetoldmetogo and Cove Blue from Florida, and Beautiful Shot from California.

Free Drop Billy, second in the Holy Bull to begin the year, was scratched out of last Saturday’s Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream for this spot. His trainer, Dale Romans, who won last year’s Gotham with J Boys Echo, said he didn’t like the potential setup of the Fountain of Youth for Free Drop Billy.

“I could have seen him running a good race in there and running second,” Romans said. “I’m going up there where I think he can win.”

Enticed finished fourth in the Holy Bull. His trainer, Kiaran McLaughlin, felt the colt was compromised by being down inside. Enticed drew the outside post in the Gotham’s nine-horse field.

“We were very happy to be outside in the clear, the opposite of what happened in the Holy Bull,” McLaughlin said. “Straight down the backside, plenty of room to get over, but when we get over hopefully we’re not behind a bunch of them.”

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Beautiful Shot, a stakes winner at 2, makes his 3-year-old debut for trainer Keith Desormeaux. Nine Route steps into graded company following three straight victories against New York-breds. Whereshetoldmetogo and Old Time Revival complete the field.

The Gotham is the last of 10 races on Saturday’s card and is the anchor of an all-stakes late pick four at the Big A. It also is part of a cross-country pick four that begins with the Tom Fool and includes the Frank Kilroe and San Felipe from Santa Anita.

A 2 1/2-hour Fox Sports 2 telecast beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern will show all four stakes from Aqueduct as well as some from Santa Anita.

KEY CONTENDERS
Firenze Fire, by Poseidon’s Warrior

Last 3 Beyers: 83-86-67

◗ Seems back in his comfort zone in a one-turn mile race, where he should get pace in which to close.

◗ Had a solid workout last Sunday that saw him sit behind another horse, blow by his workmate, and then have a strong gallop-out.

Enticed, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 3 Beyers: 76-81-84

◗ Should get a clean trip from his outside draw after having an inside trip when breaking from the rail in the Holy Bull.

◗ Ran third behind Firenze Fire and Good Magic in the Grade 1 Champagne last fall.

◗ Among the horses he beat in the Kentucky Jockey Club was Promises Fulfilled, who won last weekend’s Fountain of Youth.

Free Drop Billy, by Union Rags
Last 3 Beyers: 90-53-79

◗ While he couldn’t match strides with Audible, he did finish 7 3/4 lengths clear of the field in the Holy Bull.

◗ Last time he ran around one turn, he was beaten a neck by Sporting Chance in the Grade 1 Hopeful.

◗ Gets the services of Dylan Davis, the leading rider at this meet.