Firenze Fire second in Gr. III Withers; tied for top in Derby points

Firenze Fire finished a solid second in the Gr. III Withers Stakes at Aqueduct yesterday, and the four Kentucky Derby points he earned tied him at the top of the list on the road to Louisville. The 3-year-old son of Poseidon’s Warrior and Good Magic head the Derby hopefuls with 24 points each.

In the 1 1/8-mile Withers, Firenze Fire chased home even-money favorite Avery Island, winner of the Gr. II Nashua last season and second in the Gr. II Remsen, and earned $50,000 of the $250,000 purse for the effort. He has now banked $589,100 as he strives to give his sire a millionaire in his first crop. Current plans call for Firenze Fire’s next start to come in the Gr. III Gotham Stakes on March 10 at Aqueduct, a race offering Derby points of 50-20-10-5.

Poseidon’s Warrior leads Florida’s second-crop sire list with progeny earnings of $183,110 and is in fifth place on the state’s general sire list.