Bernie Dickman

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Regret. Upset. Tom Fool. Hail to Reason. Secretariat. Affirmed. Since the first edition of the Sanford Stakes at Saratoga a little more than 100 years ago, the race has been won by many of the most storied names in the history of the thoroughbred sport. Yesterday, Firenze Fire added his name to that august list, the son of Poseidon’s Warrior coming from off the pace under Irad Ortiz Jr. to win the $150,000, Gr. III kickoff to the Spa’s lucrative juvenile program in a driving finish.

Despite his impressive maiden-breaking performance at Monmouth Park on June 18, Firenze Fire was allowed to go off at 12-1 and he rewarded his followers with a $27 mutuel. After breaking fifth in the six-furlong test, Firenze Fire edged up to fourth after a quarter of a mile in :22.27, and went after pace-setting second choice Baffin on the turn. He took over the lead at the eighth pole, then held off 3-1 favorite Free Drop Billy approaching the wire, getting home by one length with six furlongs in 1:11.50.

The victory was worth $90,000 to Mr. Amore Stables and raised Firenze Fire’s earnings to $111,600. Trainer Jason Servis disclosed after the race that the colt will now be pointed to the seven-furlong, Gr. I Hopeful at the Spa on Sept. 4.

Pleasant Acres’ Treasure Beach, Brethren and Poseidon’s Warrior are currently running 1-2-3 on the Florida freshman sire list, and nationally, are eighth, 13th and 15th.

The third time proved to be the charm for Awesome Mass in a $50,000 maiden special at Gulfstream Park yesterday as the daughter of Brethren teamed with Emisael Jaramillo for her initial victory in a scintillating performance that more than lived up to her name. The filly took the lead in the opening jump and staved off three challengers until turning for home while posting fractions of :22.98 and :45.55. Then she exploded at the top of the stretch and drew off to score by nearly 12 lengths, getting the five furlongs in :57.18, as announcer Peter Aiello observed, “an easy winner – powerful at the end.”

Arindel’s Awesome Mass became the fourth winner for Brethren, and the $34,000 winner’s check raised the stallion’s progeny earnings to $137,082. He’s in second place behind stablemate Treasure Beach on the Florida freshman sire list, while moving up to 10th nationally among 87 listed first-year sires, giving Pleasant Acres two stallions in the top 10.

Brethren solidified his hold on second place behind Treasure Beach in the Florida freshman sire standings when Dunk destroyed the field in a $50,000 maiden special at 5 1/2 furlongs at Gulfstream Park yesterday. Emisael Jaramillo was aboard Dunk for the first time after the colt had finished third in his previous two starts for Arindel, and the talented rider handled the 8/5 favorite to perfection. Dunk tracked the leader in second place for a quarter of a mile, rolled up on the outside to take over on the turn, and ran away and hid in the stretch, cruising to the finish in 1:04.82, nearly nine lengths in front. Dunk became his sire’s third winner and the $34,000 check raised his earnings to $42,400, at the same time lifting Brethren’s progeny earnings to $102,400.

When Poseidon’s Warrior gained his first winner at Monmouth Park in June, track announcer Frank Mirahmadi bellowed in deep stretch, “Firenze Fire wins from here to Florida.” Mirahmadi went one better on Friday as Vino was splashing through the mud toward his debut victory in a $36,000 maiden special at five furlongs, giving Treasure Beach his fourth winner. “It’s a one-horse race,” Mirahmadi roared. “Vino in a sparkling performance – he absolutely crushes.”

The colt owned and bred by Mr. Amore Stables broke on top from the No. 4 post, then held off four challengers through a quarter in :22.39 and a half in :45.96. At the top of the stretch, Paco Lopez had Vino in cruise control and the pair widened the margin through the lane, galloping under the wire 7 1/2 lengths in front while clocked in :57.80.

Vino collected $21,600 for the victory and lifted Treasure Beach’s progeny earnings to $160,132. The son of Galileo is running away with the Florida freshman sire race and has moved into fourth place nationally, just $6,187 away from Spendthrift Farm’s Jimmy Creed, who is second.

Treasure Beach was the first Florida freshman sire to get two winners, then three, and now he has the distinction of getting the first stakes-placed runner. Tigerbeach, who became his sire’s first winner at Indiana Grand on May 23, finished third yesterday in the $112,000 Victoria Stakes at Woodbine. The 2-year-old colt sat off the pace in the five-furlong race under Rafael Hernandez, had to steady briefly to keep from clipping heels on the backstretch, and was coming on late to get up for third, just three-quarters of a length from second. Tigerbeach has now earned $34,977 in his short career.