Leonard Green's A Thread of Blue (Hard Spun), who led every step of the way to cause a 13-1 upset in the inaugural Saratoga Derby Aug. 4, tuned up for an upcoming appearance in the $1-million Jockey Club Derby at Belmont Park Sept. 7 Friday morning, breezing a half-mile over the Saratoga main track in :48.74. (7/45). The 12-furlong affair is the final leg of the 'Turf Trinity' and offers the winner an expenses-paid berth in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita Nov. 2.
“He worked well,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin told the NYRA notes team. “It's same as usual. He's flying and doing fabulous. We're real excited about him. The mile and a half is a bit of a question mark, but it was a question mark last time and he did it the right way. We hope that all goes well.”
Winner of Gulfstream's Dania Beach S. and GIII Palm Beach S. over the winter, A Thread of Blue was second to Jockey Club Derby aspirant Digital Age (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the GII American Turf S. at Churchill May 4. The $150,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $430,000 OBS March juvenile was a dull fourth in the GIII Penn Mile June 1, accounting for his off price in the Saratoga Derby.
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