Firenze Fire to run in Withers Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The day after Firenze Fire won the $150,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct, trainer Jason Servis said he most likely would wait until the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes on March 10 to run the horse again.

He did leave the door slightly ajar for the Grade 3 Withers pending how the horse came out of the Jerome.

Well, Firenze Fire apparently came out of the Jerome so well that on Friday, Servis confirmed that Firenze Fire would indeed run in next Saturday’s $250,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct.

“I knew the Withers was probably not going to be as tough as the Gotham,” Servis said by phone from Florida. “We’re feeling really good about it now.”

The Withers will be Firenze Fire’s first start at 1 1/8 miles. Firenze Fire is 4 for 6, with all four wins coming in races run around one turn, including the Grade 1 Champagne at a mile.

“One thing’s for sure, he’s not going to be short coming back that close off a mile race,” Servis said. “If he doesn’t get it, maybe he doesn’t get it.”

Servis said Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode the horse in the Champagne, will be reunited with Firenze Fire in the Withers. Ortiz was supposed to ride Firenze Fire in the Jerome when it was originally scheduled for Jan. 1. But Ortiz had commitments elsewhere when it was rescheduled for Jan. 13 due to weather. Manny Franco rode Firenze Fire in the Jerome. Franco is committed to ride Marconi for trainer Todd Pletcher in the Withers.

Others pointing to the Withers include Avery Island, California Night, Coltandmississippi, and Factor This. Crea’s Bklyn Law is possible. Trainer Dale Romans may send a horse up from Florida.

The Withers, a race Servis won in 2016 with Sunny Ridge, offers 17 qualifying points (10-4-2-1) to its top four finishers toward the May 5 Kentucky Derby.