A Thread of Blue tops Tropical Turf

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A Thread of Blue, among the invitees to the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational on Jan. 25, was the marquee name entered Wednesday for Saturday’s $100,000 Tropical Turf at Gulfstream. The Grade 3 Tropical Turf shares top billing on the card with its filly counterpart, the Grade 3 Marshua’s River.

A Thread of Blue was third on the list of reserves for the World Cup Turf, a group that also includes stablemate Lucullan. A Thread of Blue, winner of the $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational at 3 last year, is coming off a second-place finish as the 9-5 favorite in the Grade 2 Hill Prince on Oct. 5 at Belmont Park.

The pace should be an honest one in the Tropical Turf, with the speedy pair of Gemonteer and Gidu also slated to run. Other contenders include Big Agenda, Maraud, Sand Dancer, Tusk, Gunnison, and the Mike Maker-trained pair of Exulting and Empire of War. Both Empire of War and Gunnison were supplemental nominees.

A smaller field is in the offing for the Marshua’s River and includes Andina Del Sur, Magic Star, Malkia, Maroubra, Munchkin Money, and Sweet Bye and Bye.