Hopeful next race for Sanford winner Firenze Fire

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Jason Servis said Monday that Firenze Fire came out of his victory in Saturday’s Grade 3 Sanford Stakes in good order and that he’ll be pointed next for the Grade 1 Hopeful at seven furlongs on closing day of the Saratoga meet.

Firenze Fire, a son of Poseidon’s Warrior, rallied to a one-length victory over favorite Free Drop Billy in the six-furlong Sanford to remain perfect in two starts. He is owned and was bred by Ron Lombardi’s Mr. Amore Stable.

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“If all goes well and we can have him ready, we’ll look at the Hopeful next,” said Servis. “I’ll freshen him a little after this one, but we’ve got six weeks, so it shouldn’t be a problem. And I think the extra distance should be a plus for him because it will allow him to relax and settle a little longer before having to make his run.”

Firenze Fire was the first horse bred by Lombardi, who claimed his dam, My Every Wish, for $16,000 at Aqueduct five years ago but never raced her.

“We were going to give her away, but then Ron decided to breed her, and sure enough, three years later, here we are with a stakes winner,” Servis said.

Servis also said he is likely to resist the temptation of running Sunny Ridge in the Grade 1 Whitney in lieu of the 1 3/4-mile Birdstone here on Aug. 3. Sunny Ridge, the winner of the Grade 3 Withers last year at 3, is coming off a second-place finish behind War Story in the 1 1/2-mile Brooklyn.