Firenze Fire 'ready to move forward' in Vanderbilt Handicap

Mr. Amore Stable's Firenze Fire put in his final work before Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, going four furlongs in 49.49 seconds on Saratoga's Oklahoma training track Saturday.

Firenze Fire registered his first work since winning the 6½-furlong True North (G2) on June 27 at Belmont. The 5-year-old son of Poseidon's Warrior was making his second start in three weeks after returning from a near four-month layoff to run fourth in the Carter (G1) earlier in the month.

With four wins in his last five starts dating to November, trainer Kelly Breen said Firenze Fire has continued to train forwardly heading into the six-furlong Vanderbilt.

"He's doing as well as he was into his last race, so if he moves forward again, he should be ready to move forward one more time," Breen said.

Breen took over the training duties for Firenze Fire before the Carter. 

In 26 career starts, Firenze Fire has an 11-3-2 ledger and earnings of $1.93 million.