BY BROCK SHERIDAN

As first reported in Blood-Horse, Florida-bred Firenze Fire was represented by his first winner, Porta Romana (Jpn), a four-length winner of the second race at Mombetsu Racecourse in Japan on May 27. The race was for 2-year-olds at four furlongs and 214 yards with a purse of ¥850,000 (US$595,000). She was the 4-7 favorite against six other fillies including second-place finisher Sasuke Bella (Jpn) and Bouvardia Rose (Jpn) in third.

Bred in Japan by Funakoshi Bokujo, Porta Romana is out of Screen Debut (Jpn), by Screen Hero (Jpn). She is trained by Nozomi Ono for Ygg Horse Club Ltd. and was ridden by Fuma Ono.

Firenze Fire stands at Arrow Stud in Japan, where he began his stallion career in 2022.

Bred in Florida and raced by Ron Lombardi’s Mr Amore Stables, Firenze Fire is by Poseidon’s Warrior out of My Every Wish, by Langfuhr. He was a multiple graded stakes winner 13 stakes including the Grade 1 Champagne, Vosburgh (G2), a two-time winner of the True North (G2) and Runhappy (G3) (once when not graded); General George (G3), Gallant Bob (G3), Dwyer (G3) and Sanford (G3). 

 

He leads all Florida-breds with five appearances in Breeders’ Cup appearances with his best finish a third in 2020 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). He retired following the 2021 Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint with a record of 14 wins, seven seconds and three thirds from 38 and his $2,730,350 in career earnings ranks him 19th on the list of all-time leading Florida-bred money earners.

 

He was the Florida-bred Champion Older Horse in 2021 and Champion 2-Year-Old Male in 2017.

 

Return to the June 3 issue of Wire to Wire