A Thread of Blue Goes All the Way in Saratoga Derby
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand
A Thread of Blue sails through the stretch of the Saratoga Derby
After bypassing the first leg of the New York Racing Association's new Turf Trinity series, Leonard Green's A Thread of Blue was back in top form Aug. 4 and led every step of the $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes at 13-1.
The 3-year-old Hard Spun colt made himself known at Gulfstream Park early in the year, winning the Feb. 3 Dania Beach Stakes and March 2 Palm Beach Stakes (G3T). Fellow Saratoga Derby runner Digital Age then ran him down by three-quarters of a length in the May 4 American Turf Stakes Presented by Ram Trucks (G2T) at Churchill Downs.
A Thread of Blue finished fourth last out in the June 1 Penn Mile Stakes (G2) at Penn National.
But Sunday, no one could catch A Thread of Blue as he and jockey Luis Saez kept a determined Digital Age at bay to win the 1 3/16-mile event on the Mellon turf course by a length.
"Just like it looked it could work out on paper," said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. "(An) uncontested lead is big, and he's a very talented horse. He likes it firm, obviously, winning three in Florida. He doesn't like to ship that well, but he ran great at Churchill.
"(The) Penn (Mile) just didn't go well. We gave him a little more time going into this, but he's been training unbelievable and it just worked out great."
A Thread of Blue enjoyed a clear lead throughout. He was two lengths in front through the first quarter-mile in :23.62. Flying Scotsman shortened that advantage to a length as a half-mile went in :48.54, but A Thread of Blue was two clear again when he ran three-quarters of a mile in 1:12.32.
Digital Age raced in the middle of the 11-horse pack under Irad Ortiz Jr., who swung his mount four wide for a game rally in front of the grandstand. A Thread of Blue got up to a 2 1/2-length lead as he passed the mile marker in 1:35.43, but Digital Age was closing the gap. European invader Cape of Good Hope was also making a fast-closing bid after saving ground on the inside.
"In a big race, you never know, but we were lucky that it was pretty easy up front," said Saez, who has ridden A Thread of Blue for six straight starts. "When we came into the stretch, I knew I had plenty of horse. I saw them coming, but he responded pretty well. It was easy for him today."
Despite his late kick, Digital Age fell short of catching the frontrunner. A Thread of Blue completed the trip in 1:52.02 on a grass course rated firm. Digital Age was 1 1/4 lengths clear for second over Cape of Good Hope.
"They slowed down on the backside, in the second part of the race, and when they slowed down I think that was when I got beat," Ortiz said of the runner up. "(But) he was coming."
Social Paranoia finished fourth over Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) winner Henley's Joy, who was in ninth on the inside and fanned seven wide. Rockemperor, Kadar, Mohawk, Flying Scotsman, Seismic Wave, and Eons completed the order of finish.
The Saratoga Derby boosted A Thread of Blue's record to 5-2-1 from 10 starts with $879,290 in earnings. Green purchased the colt for $430,000 from the Niall Brennan Stables consignment to last year's Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. A Thread of Blue was originally bought by Merites Stable for $150,000 when he was consigned by Lane's End at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
The dark bay/brown colt was bred in Kentucky by Flaxman Holdings out of the Seeking the Gold mare Enthused, a group 2 winner in England. Enthused has proven successful in her second career as the dam of Norman Invader, a group 3 winner in Ireland; Ea, a stakes winner and grade 3-placed runner on dirt; and Galvanize, who is stakes-placed in Dubai. Enthused last foaled a Karakontie colt April 10.
The Sept. 7 Jockey Club Derby, run at 1 1/2 miles back on Belmont Park's lawn, rounds out the Turf Trinity races. No commitment for A Thread of Blue had been made regarding the finale.
"(The Saratoga Derby distance) was a concern, but not really," McLaughlin said. "He's a very talented horse, and we thought he could get the distance. Now the next one we might have to talk about a mile and a half, but we got this one. We're happy with this."