Firenze Fire seeks a different finish in the Vosburgh
Firenze Fire seeks a different finish in the Vosburgh
By New York Hot List Staff // Thursday, September 24
A year ago, Firenze Fire suffered a stinging defeat in the Grade 2 Vosburgh Stakes. He made a strong move in the stretch but at the wire he fell a nose shy of catching Imperial Hint, who became a back-to-back winner of the six-furlong stakes. Facing five rivals Saturday in the 81st Vosburgh, Firenze Fire can avenge that loss while bouncing back from a last-place finish over a sloppy track in the Forego Stakes at Saratoga. A record of four wins from seven starts at Belmont Park and a quick, bullet work over the track last week certainly make him a likely favorite in a small field.
Here is the Hot List analysis for the Vosburgh Stakes:
The $150,000 Vosburgh Stakes, Belmont Park, Saturday, Race 9.
(2) Funny Guy (B) is a Hot List horse after he caught a sloppy track in the Forego (G1) and had to steady at the half mile mark but kept on to finish fourth in a race where the winner rallied from far back. This New York-bred comes back here in the Vosburgh (G2) and Rosario stays on board. (5) Firenze Fire returns to Belmont Park where he has always done his best running including a victory in the True North (G2) back in June and cuts back to six furlongs where he is a frequent winner. He was second by a nose in this race last year behind Imperial Hint. (6) Engage has been away from the races since running fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. After moving to the Steve Asmussen barn, he won two stakes races. He’ll ship up from Churchill Downs for the Vosburgh. (3) Stan the Man won the Tale of the Cat at Saratoga after a wide trip while rallying from a stalking position. He was second to Firenze Fire in True North two races back.
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