After missing two starts because of damp conditions, Leonard Green's A Thread of Blue will return Jan. 11 in the $100,000 Tropical Turf Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park, where he won three straight races during the previous Championship Meet.
The 4-year-old Hard Spun colt is expected to face nine others in the one-mile test, which will be his first start against older horses.
"He's been working right along and doing great, and (jockey) Luis Saez is available so we're happy to have him," said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. "The mile, I think he's better a little bit further than a mile, but it's a mile and he loves it down here so it looks like a spot to get going."
At last year's meeting, A Thread of Blue ended his 2-year-old season at Gulfstream with an allowance optional claiming victory at 1 1/16 miles. He returned at 3 to win the one-mile Dania Beach Stakes and posted his initial graded win one start later in the 1 1/16-mile Palm Beach Stakes (G3T). The dark bay also picked up a victory in the inaugural $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational Aug. 4 at Saratoga Race Course.
His last race, the Oct. 5 Hill Prince Stakes (G2T) at Belmont Park, resulted in a close second. Connections decided to skip the Nov. 30 Hollywood Derby (G1T) at Del Mar because of rain, then with rain and a wide post draw for the Dec. 28 Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream, bypassed that race, too.
"Going back to Del Mar, it was raining out there and they moved the dates around. He definitely wants it firm, firm; so we didn't go to the Hollywood Derby," McLaughlin said. "Then we pointed for the Tropical Derby, and again it was raining and it was pretty soft and he got post 14. The combination of both; we decided to pass."
A Thread of Blue is one of five reserve invitees following the 12 invitees to the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Presented by Runhappy (G1T) at Gulfstream, but McLaughlin has the colt readied for Saturday's event.
"The Pegasus was there, but this race Saturday suits us a little better," he said, "so we're going to do that."
Also entered is Collinsworth Thoroughbred Racing's Maraud, making his first start for trainer Joseph Orseno. The 5-year-old son of Blame was claimed for $80,000 at Saratoga in August by trainer Carlos Martin. He last ran Sept. 1 in the Red Bank Stakes (G3T) at Monmouth Park and finished third.
"He came to me from New York. He was a pleasant surprise," Orseno said. "He's doing really well and training great, and it looks like a great spot for him. We were thinking about another race, but this one came up and the way he breezed last time we just thought he was ready."
Maraud worked the fastest half-mile of 55 at the distance Dec. 31 on Gulfstream's main track. He was timed in :47.71.
With trainer Todd Pletcher in 2018, Maraud won the American Turf Stakes presented by Ram Trucks (G2T) at Churchill Downs. The bay, a half brother to Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) winner Arklow, has won two of three races on Gulfstream's turf, including the Palm Beach a year before A Thread of Blue.
Empire of War, Big Agenda, Gidu, Gunnison, Tusk, Gemonteer, Exulting, and Sand Dancer round out the field.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, January 11, 2020, Race 10Entries: Tropical Turf S. (G3T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Empire of War (KY)
Javier Castellano
118
Michael J. Maker
10/1
2
2Maraud (KY)
Paco Lopez
120
Joseph F. Orseno
9/2
3
3Big Agenda (KY)
Edgar S. Prado
118
Lilli Kurtinecz
20/1
4
4Gidu (IRE)
John R. Velazquez
120
Todd A. Pletcher
7/2
5
5Gunnison (KY)
Nik Juarez
118
Kelly Rubley
20/1
6
6Tusk (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
118
Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
8/1
7
7Gemonteer (KY)
Emisael Jaramillo
120
Jena M. Antonucci
10/1
8
8A Thread of Blue (KY)
Luis Saez
122
Kiaran P. McLaughlin
5/2
9
9Exulting (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
120
Michael J. Maker
6/1
10
10Sand Dancer (KY)
Jairo Rendon
118
Timothy A. Hills
20/1