Firenze Fire should be known for more than savaging

Owner Ron Lombardi sounds like a doting parent, willing to defend his notorious son no matter how he misbehaved.

In this case, Lombardi is recalling arguably the oddest, most startling moment of the season. His Firenze Fire repeatedly savaged an undeterred Yaupon in deep stretch in the Aug. 24 Forego Stakes (G1) before a stunned crowd at Saratoga Race Course. Video of the unusual episode quickly made the social media rounds, captivating even those who never follow racing.

“He went from being a fan favorite to being a rock star,” Lombardi said proudly.

The breeder and owner of Firenze Fire could not have gotten a better view of one of the most violent savaging incidents in history. He was standing at the rail with his trainer, Kelly Breen, as a scorching stretch escalated beyond anyone’s imagination.

“If you look at the video, he didn’t reach over and take one bite. He was four strides with his head trying to take a bite out of him,” Lombardi said. “To stay in the race while doing that, it’s just an amazing athletic accomplishment. It was unbelievable.”

Lombardi suggested Firenze Fire had been something of a victim. “If you look at the race, I think he got bumped once or twice before that. I think he just got pissed,” he said. “Unfortunately, I think it cost him the race because he was doing that and staying even. But something ticked him off and he wasn’t going to have it.”

Jockey Jose Ortiz, who was aboard the miscreant, said he is “100 percent” sure the savaging cost them the winner’s share of the $600,000 purse. They missed by a head in the seven-furlong contest.

“It was the first time that happened to me,” he noted. “I just tried to hold him together. The legs were very close to the other horse.”

Ortiz attempted to return his mount’s focus to the track by pulling on the right rein. “I wasn’t successful. He kept savaging the other horse,” he said.

Ricardo Santana Jr., his counterpart, feared for his safety. “I thought he was going to bite me,” he texted, adding, “All I did was keep riding. Yaupon did the rest.”

Scott Blasi has seen all kinds of things during his long tenure as an assistant to Yaupon's trainer, Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. This was a new experience for him.

“You’ve seen horses do it before in races for a bite or two,” he said. “I’ve never really seen it sustained for such a period of time, for as long as it took place.”

Firenze Fire had been a savaging victim three years earlier. Whereshetoldmetogo briefly went on the attack in the final 100 yards of the Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing during a neck loss to his rival. But, as Lombardi noted, that was “one little peck.”

According to Breen, Firenze Fire carried himself like an “alpha dog” around the barn. He never turned that attitude of superiority into any malicious acts against his caretakers.

As much as was made of Firenze Fire’s antics, Yaupon’s unflappable nature should not be overlooked. He never responded to the onslaught in maintaining a straight course to a determined victory. Blasi expected nothing less.

“He’s got a great disposition. He’s one of the nicest horses to be around in the barn. He’s very straightforward,” the assistant said. “His reaction to it did not surprise me. He’s a gritty, determined horse. The way he fought on and disregarded it was the most important part.”

Although Firenze Fire will always be known for blowing his cool one warm August afternoon at Saratoga, he deserves to be remembered for much more. The 6-year-old son of Poseidon’s Warrior maintained an excellent form through his career, sweeping 14 of 38 starts with seven runner-up finishes for earnings that surpassed $2.7 million. His success included nine graded-stakes triumphs; he competed in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships a record-tying five times.

Firenze Fire’s durability and competitive fires undoubtedly helped spur interest from Arrow Stud in Japan, which acquired him and will have him enter stud duty on Hokkaido Island. Fortunately for Yaupon, that is a world away from his new home as a stallion at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Ky.