Firenze Fire's next start likely in True North

Firenze Fire, winner of Saturday’s Grade 3 Runhappy Stakes, will likely make his next start in the Grade 2, $300,000 True North Stakes on June 4, trainer Kelly Breen said.

“The True North looks like the ideal spot off what we saw yesterday,” Breen said Sunday morning.

Firenze Fire, coming off a five-month layoff, was an easy 3 1/4-length winner of the Runhappy, for which he earned a 102 Beyer Speed Figure.

The year-end goal for Firenze Fire is the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar in November. Firenze Fire finished third in last year’s Sprint.

Colic surgery couldn’t stop ‘Love’

When Victim of Love won Saturday’s Grade 3 Vagrancy Handicap at Belmont Park she was making just her third start since she won last year’s Vagrancy.

Trainer Todd Beattie explained that last September, after he shipped Victim of Love from Penn National to Saratoga for the Honorable Miss Stakes, the filly developed colic and needed surgery at the nearby Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital. In her first start since then, she finished second in an allowance at Laurel in February prior to her victory Saturday.

:: Join DRF Bets and get ready to watch and wager on the Preakness with a $250 first deposit bonus

Because of her resilience, Victim of Love has become “a barn favorite,” said Beattie, who added it was gratifying to see Victim of Love return to stakes-winning form “because so many don’t get back,” he added.

Beattie said he would like to give Victim of Love at least 30 days between starts so that could make the Bed O’ Roses on June 4 unlikely for the 5-year-old daughter of Speightstown. Saratoga has the Grade 2, $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap on July 28 as a steppingstone to the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina Handicap on Aug. 28.

Last year, Victim of Love finished third in the Ballerina, which was run early in the meet.