Firenze Fire will race again at 6, but first comes the Cigar Mile

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Barring an unexpected change of heart, Firenze Fire will have a 6-year-old campaign in 2021, owner Ron Lombardi said Sunday.

“I love the horse, I love racing, I’m really not a breeder, although I do have 15 broodmares,” Lombardi said. “I’m in it for the racing and the thrill of it.”

Firenze Fire has given Lombardi plenty of thrills over the last few years, starting in 2017 with a victory in the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park. He has since won 10 additional stakes and run in the Breeders’ Cup four consecutive years, finishing third in this year’s Sprint at Keeneland.

Lombardi hopes for another thrill in Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct, where Firenze Fire is scheduled to complete his 5-year-old campaign.

Firenze Fire is one of seven horses expected to run in the Cigar. He was assigned 123 pounds, which would make him the starting highweight in a field that includes two-time Grade 1 winner Mind Control (121) and Performer (118), a winner of five straight who has raced only once in a year. Mr. Buff (118), True Timber (118), King Guillermo (117), and Bon Raison (116) are the other expected starters.

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Firenze Fire’s participation in the Cigar could be contingent on track condition. He struggles over a wet track as was evident in the Forego and Carter – both Grade 1 stakes – earlier this year. There is rain in the forecast Saturday.

“If it’s really a torrential downpour where it’s going to be a sloppy track I may lean toward scratching,” Lombardi said.

After this weekend, Lombardi said he is torn on where Firenze Fire will winter. Last year, Firenze Fire won the Gravesend at Aqueduct and the General George at Laurel in the winter.

Firenze Fire is trained by Kelly Breen, who has stables in both New York and Florida.

Lombardi is already in Florida and due to COVID-related restrictions said he won’t be returning to New York for the Cigar. Should he scratch Firenze Fire from the Cigar, there are a couple of spots at Gulfstream Park for him, including the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector at seven furlongs on Dec. 19, the Sunshine Millions Sprint at six furlongs on Jan. 16, or the Grade 3, $150,000 Fred Hopper going a mile Jan. 23.

“The money’s a little less but then I’d like to go back up there for the Carter,” said Lombardi, referring to the Grade 1 seven-furlong race on April 3 at Aqueduct.

Lombardi said if he ran Firenze Fire at Gulfstream he’d get the enjoyment of being able to watch him run in person with friends.

“At least here you can get a beer, make a bet, and have a hot dog,” he said.

◗ Jockey Eric Cancel will serve a three-day careless riding suspension Friday through Sunday. The days were handed by the stewards for his ride on Abuse of Power in the 10th race here Nov. 7. Abuse of Power finished second but was disqualified to third for interfering with the third-place finisher Fetching, who was elevated to second.