Winner of two straight heading into Sunday's Gr3 Red Bank H., Firey Speech arrived at Monmouth Park primed for an encounter in the New Jersey standard with Divisidero, twice victorious himself in Gr1 company.

Proving up to the task of that challenge, Firey Speech nearly pulled off an upset before ultimately settling for 2nd to Divisidero in the one mile Red Bank. Overcoming a slow start, the imported Irish-bred made a bold bid between horses, challenging Divisidero for the lead inside the last furlong before yielding late to the two-time Woodford Reserve Turf Classic winner.

Campaigned initially in his native Ireland by owner/breeder Moyglare Stud, Firey Speech displayed fair promise at two, winning twice before placing a smart 2nd in the Gr3 Juvenile S. at Leopardstown. Following a brief 3yo campaign, the son of Street Cry was subsequently sold to continue his career abroad.

In his 2nd appearance stateside and first start in over a year, Firey Speech placed 4th in a tough Keeneland allowance featuring several proven stakes horses. The Brian House-trainee backed up that promising reappearance with consecutive allowance scores at Canterbury Park and Churchill Downs.

Along with his being by a leading U.S.-based sire, another hint of American influence in his pedigree comes via dam Firey Red. The Pivotal mare is herself a daughter of Step with Style, a Moyglare homebred by Gulch who was a Listed winner & MGSP stateside for Christophe Clement.