Three Alarm Fire brings strong company lines to Wednesday feature
ELMONT, N.Y. – Horses are often judged by the company they keep, and Three Alarm Fire will be judged very favorably in Wednesday’s $77,000 allowance feature at Belmont Park after what happened here last Friday.
At Saratoga, Three Alarm Fire won a seven-furlong maiden race by 2 1/4 lengths over Liam’s Map. Last Friday at Belmont, Liam’s Map came back to win a maiden race by 9 1/2 lengths in eye-catching fashion, earning a 98 Beyer Speed Figure.
“That gave him a nice compliment,” Tom Albertrani, the trainer of Three Alarm Fire, said.
Another compliment was provided by Hard to Handle, who, after finishing sixth to Three Alarm Fire at Saratoga, came back to win a maiden special weight race at Delaware Park by nine lengths.
On Wednesday, Three Alarm Fire, a son of Pyro owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and Michael Basone, meets six horses in his first attempt against winners and at 1 1/16 miles.
Three Alarm Fire ran well in both of his starts. On July 11 at Belmont, Three Alarm Fire broke a little slowly, then rushed up to duel on the lead before finishing second to Successful Runner, a horse who had already made six starts and was coming off a good second-place finish in his previous start.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Three Alarm Fire. Trainer Tom Albertrani is 29-1-6-6 with a $0.16 ROI over the past two years with horses in the start following a maiden victory. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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“First time, he broke a little slow, and [Joel Rosario] got him on the engine a little early, and he probably just needed the race as well,” Albertrani said. “Second time, he had a wide trip, but he rode him with a little more patience that day, and he kind of rolled past the field.”
Rosario, who is leading all riders at this meet with 23 victories – and a win percentage of 28 percent – rides Three Alarm Fire on Wednesday from post 2.
KEY CONTENDERS
Three Alarm Fire (Last 2 Beyers: 95-90)
◗ Though he was beaten going a mile in his debut, Three Alarm Fire gives his trainer the impression that he wants to run a distance of ground.
“He galloped out really good after his race at Saratoga. I think eventually he’ll want to stretch out a little bit,” Albertrani said. “Could be a very exciting prospect, we’re hoping.”
Encryption (Last 3 Beyers: 84-83-95)
◗ He chased a loose-on-the-lead Mosler around the track when second to that one in a first-level allowance race here going a mile Sept. 11.
◗ He ran a decent third to Irish You Well in the Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth.
◗ Trainer Kelly Breen has a win and two seconds from three starts at the meet.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Encryption. Trainer Kelly Breen is 27-8-5-3 with a $3.39 ROI over the past two years in dirt routes in the second start following a layoff. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
The Brothers Rap (Last 3 Beyers: 91-80-82)
◗ A three-time winner and the only older horse in the field, The Brothers Rap comes off a New York-bred second-level optional-claiming victory against next-out winner Writingonthewall at Saratoga.
◗ He finished third after a poor start the last time he raced at Belmont.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Lawmaker. Trainer Todd Pletcher is 9-4-2-3 with a $2.83 ROI over the past five years with new stock returning in dirt routes following a layoff of 180 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan