McCarthy, Firenze Fire get acquainted in work

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trevor McCarthy will ride Firenze Fire in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct and on Monday he got acquainted with the multiple graded stakes winner, guiding him through a half-mile workout in 49.18 seconds over the Belmont Park training track.

Firenze Fire was a bit rank at the beginning of the work, wanting to engage a stablemate to his inside. Though the work officially started at the half-mile pole, Firenze Fire shaded 14 seconds from the five-eighths pole to the half-mile pole. He then proceeded to go an opening-quarter in 23.47 seconds before McCarthy took a bit of a hold and moved him a path away from the workmate in going the final quarter in 25.71.

“He was definitely on the muscle,” McCarthy said afterward.

“He was a little rank but he went good,” said Henry Argueta, assistant to trainer Jason Servis.

Firenze Fire won the $150,000 Jerome Stakes on Jan. 13, and Servis indicated that he was going to wait for the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham on March 10. But Firenze Fire came out of the race so fresh that the decision was made to wheel him back in three weeks.

Manny Franco had ridden Firenze Fire in the Jerome, but he is committed to Marconi for Todd Pletcher in the Withers. Initially, Irad Ortiz Jr., who had ridden Firenze Fire four times including a victory in the Grade 1 Champagne, was expected to ride him in the Withers. But Ortiz has too many commitments Saturday at Gulfstream.

A small field is expected for the Withers when the race is drawn Wednesday. Expected to join Firenze Fire and Marconi in the gate are Avery Island, winner of the Grade 2 Nashua Stakes; maiden winner California Night; and possibly Coltandmississippi and Crea’s Bklyn Law.

Factor This will not run in the Withers and instead will be pointed to the $150,000 Jimmy Winkfield at seven furlongs here Feb. 10, according to trainer Ed Barker.