A Thread of Blue Wires $100,000 Dania Beach

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Leonard Green’s A Thread of Blue took command early and drew off commandingly late, taking the field gate to wire in Sunday’s $100,000 Dania Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Breaking alertly from post 6 under Luis Saez as the 2/1 favorite, A Thread of Blue shot right to the lead and crossed over heading into the first turn before posting opening fractions of :23.36, :47.66, and 1:11.41. Still well in hand as he hit the top of the stretch, A Thread of Blue responded immediately when Saez gave him a shake of the reins. From there, the race was over. The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee drew off without being asked for his best, crossing under wraps 3 1/2 lengths the best in a final time of 1:34.96 for the mile-long event over the firm turf course.

“He’s very fast,” Saez said. “He put me in that position. I was there pretty easy and, man, when he came to the stretch, he just took off. He did everything right.”

Though never within striking range of the winner, Louder Than Bombs made a strong rally along the rail from midpack to get up for second by a 1/2-length over Current. The early stalker Stirling Drive weakened to fourth, while Royal Urn outkicked Casa Creed and Shootin the Breeze for fifth. My Silencer, Fed Fever, Rayo My King, and Ole Mole completed the order of finish. Going for Gold was scratched.

A Thread of Blue’s win was his second straight over the Gulfstream Park lawn and his first in a stakes event. The 3-year-old son of Hard Spun improved his overall record to 6-3-1-1 with $151,380 earned.

“The last time, he was sharp and he broke,” McLaughlin said. “Today, it didn’t look like there was anyone to bother him but maybe (Ole Mole). It worked out for us. When you talk about route races and turf, a lot of them are lacking pace, and we are the pace. We’ve always liked him. He’s obviously liking Gulfstream, so we’ll probably stay on this turf and run back in a month (in the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes).”

A Thread of Blue returned $6.20 to win, $3.60 to place, and $2.80 to show. Louder Than Bombs brought back $5.40 to place and $3.60 to show, while Current paid $3 to show.