A Thread of Blue Returns in Tropical Turf

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."

Video: Saratoga Derby Invitational S. (BT)

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.

Entries: Tropical Turf S. (G3T)

Gulfstream Park, Saturday, January 11, 2020, Race 10

• Grade IIIT
• 1m
• Turf
• $100,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 4:38 PM (local)

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