Firenze Fire warmed up for his return to Grade 1 stakes competition with an easy-as-he-pleased four-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 General George Stakes at Laurel Park. Confidently handled from the start by Irad Ortiz Jr., Firenze Fire was on the lead early on, before allowing Factor It In and Honor the Fleet to battle for the front midway down the backside. Ortiz sat chilly on Firenze Fire until the quarter pole when, despite coming four-to-five wide in the stretch, he asked his horse to run. Firenze Fire responded, drawing away easily to record the victory, He covered seven furlongs in 1:22.38 and returned $3 as the 1-2 favorite. Threes Over Deuces, the longest shot in the field at 21-1, got second by a neck over Still Having Fun. Lone Rock, Tiz He the One, Factor It In,and Honor the Fleet completed the order of finish. :: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Wonderful Light and Wicked Trick were scratched. Wicked Trick, the second choice on the morning-line, showed signs of colic after shipping from New York to Maryland, according to trainer Linda Rice. Firenze Fire, a homebred by Poseidon’s Warrior owned by Ron Lombardi, won for the 10th time in 24 starts and pushed his career earnings to $1,841,750. It was his ninth stakes win, fourth in a Grade 3. At 2, Firenze Fire won the Grade 1 Champagne. Last year, Firenze Fire finished second to Mitole in the Grade 1 Forego and was beaten a nose by Imperial Hint in the Grade 1 Vosburgh. Firenze Fire will make his next start in the Grade 1 Carter at Aqueduct on April 4. “He’s as honest as they come,” trainer Jason Servis said from Florida where he watched the race. “I’d like to have about six of them in the barn.” Ortiz said he didn’t want to have Firenze Fire on the lead, which is why he kept well off the rail, hoping somebody would go for the front to his inside. Factor It In and Honor the Fleet obliged. From there, it was a matter of when to ask his horse for his best. “We don’t want to go to the lead, I tried to stay away from the rail, he relaxed so well,” Ortiz said. “He’s a great horse. I just sat right there, relaxed, and when I asked him he just took off.” For Lombardi, the ride with Firenze Fire continues. After taking him to the Breeders’ Cup at 2 and the Kentucky Derby at 3, Firenze Fire looks poised for a big year at 5. “He’s been a great horse, he’s solid, and he gives everything he has every race,” Lombardi said.