Firenze Fire prevails in 'biting' finish to Gallant Bob Stakes
Firenze Fire held on
to win Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Gallant Bob
Stakes at Parx, both out-running
Whereshetoldmetogo and out-finishing him despite some savagery in deep stretch.
As the two approached the wire, Whereshetoldmetogo turned his head to the
left and took a bite at Firenze Fire, who held steady as jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.
tried to avoid the opponent’s teeth, winning by a neck. Seven Trumpets and
Engage got up for third and fourth.
The final time for the six furlongs was 1:11.27.
Winning trainer Jason Servis said the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint and Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile are both options for the Mr. Amore Stable homebred.
“You have to think, the way he broke – God, he broke two in front – you
have to think maybe Sprint,” he said. “But we'll look at them both – see which
one's softer.”
Firenze Fire was quick out of the gate under Ortiz Jr. but sat behind Forge,
who had the advantage of an inside position. Forge opened up a quick first
quarter-mile in :21.91 before slowing it down to 45.92. Ortiz was quick to take
over on Firenze Fire in the stretch but not without a fight, quite literally,
from Whereshetoldmetogo.
Stewards reviewed the finish but the order was left unchanged. The winner didn’t
seem bothered and Whereshetoldmetogo was clear of Seven Trumpets and Engage.
“He tried to but me, I think – the other horse,” Ortiz said. A look back at the
final strides shows the jockey moving his arm to avoid Whereshetoldmetogo.
“I guess they have to put the
inquiry up," Ortiz added, "but nothing happened.”
The Gallant Bob was the sixth win in 13 starts for Firenze Fire. He was a
promising juvenile, winning both the Grade 3 Sanford and Grade 1 Champagne, and
finished 11th this spring in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. A cutback in distance
proved successful, with Firenze Fire returning to win the one-mile, Grade 3
Dwyer Stakes. The Gallant Bob was a rebound from his third-place run in the
Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at seven furlongs.
Instead of making his usual late run, Firenze Fire was just off the pace in the
Gallant Bob. The win boosted the 3-year-old Florida-bred’s earnings to
$1,074,100.