Firenze Fire is Poseidon’s Warrior’s first millionaire
Firenze Fire and his sire, Poseidon’s Warrior, both reached new heights yesterday when the Mr. Amore Stables 3-year-old captured the $300,000, Gr. III Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing. Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard the colt, who earned $180,000 for the victory and became the first millionaire for Poseidon’s Warrior with a total of $1,074,100. The Speightstown stallion, who finished second in the same race in 2011, is less than $15,000 away from surpassing the $2 million mark in progeny earnings.
Ortiz broke Firenze Fire on top in the six-furlong race, then dropped him back about three lengths during a quarter that went in a sizzling :21.91. They moved at the pacesetter on the turn and took the lead into the stretch after a half-mile in :45.82. The colt then engaged in a nose-to-nose duel to the finish with Whereshetoldmetogo, who came in on a three-race winning streak, including two stakes. In the shadow of the wire, Whereshetoldmetogo tried to savage Firenze Fire, but Ortiz never flinched and guided his colt home by a neck.
Firenze Fire now sports a record of 6-1-1 in 13 starts and has won five stakes, four of them graded.