Firenze Fire's still delivering 'truly amazing' moments

Mr. Amore Stable’s Firenze Fire, already a stakes winner at ages 2, 3 and 4, continued to look like a win machine this weekend in his 5-year-old debut.

The Florida-bred son of Poseidon's Warrior made Laurel Park's General George Stakes (G3) his ninth career stakes victory, out-classing his competition at Laurel Park in a four-length score under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.

“It’s a dream come true,” said owner Ron Lombardi, who campaigns the homebred horse under the Mr. Amore Stable banner.

Per Lombardi, the Jason Servis-trained Firenze Fire will likely next target the Carter Handicap (G1) on April 4 at Aqueduct.

“I’m not ruling it out, but most likely we’ll stay local, stay in the States and continue racing, rather than lose a couple of months with the traveling.”

Going back to his juvenile season, Firenze Fire captured the Hopeful (G1) and Sanford Stakes (G3), then took the Jerome and Gallant Bob Stakes (G3) as a 3-year-old. In 2019, he won each of the Runhappy Stakes, Fabulous Strike and Gravesend Stakes.

Along the way, Firenze Fire provided Lombardi a bucket list trip.

"He got us to the Kentucky Derby," the owner said. "We finished 11th, but just to get to the Derby was truly amazing. A lot of people questioned my desire to get there, saying I was pushing the horse, but my feeling is anytime you can get to the Kentucky Derby you have to take it.”

In the longterm, Lombardi said there's no rush to retire a horse who's in good health and remains quite competitive.

“Firenze Fire is a homebred – that makes it that much more special,” Lombardi said. “Everyone said, “My Every Wish, the broodmare, don’t breed her.’ I just said, “I got nothing else to do but breed her, and here we are.”