'Blue' Cuts Back in Hill Prince

A three-time winner this year, Leonard Green's A Thread of Blue (Hard Spun) hopes to capitalize on the cut back to nine furlongs in Saturday's GII Hill Prince S. at Belmont. Victorious in three straight races at Gulfstream last winter, including the most recent in the 8 1/2-furlong GIII Palm Beach S. Mar. 2, the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained colt finished runner up in the GII American Turf at Churchill Derby Day before tiring to fourth over a yielding turf course in the Penn Mile June 1. Back in the winner's circle following the 9 1/2-furlong Saratoga Derby Aug. 4, the dark bay was fourth last time in the 12-panel Jockey Club Derby Invitational Sept. 7.

“We like the cutback,” affirmed McLaughlin. “It rained the day before the Jockey Club Derby. We were unlucky because he likes it firm. Hopefully, it doesn't rain too much this week. He's doing very well.”

The trainer added, “We're switching to the inner course which I think is better. The turnback is obviously to our advantage. He ran very well at a mile and a half, but a mile and an eighth is probably better. The outer course was a little bit loose last time, so all systems are go.”

Chad Brown is represented by a pair of runners in the latest renewal of the Hill Prince, including Digital Age (Ire) (Invincible Spirit). The Klaravich Stables runner won three straight early in the season–including the most recent in the 8 1/2-furlong GII American Turf S. May 4. Fourth in the Belmont Derby in July, he was a length back in second in the Saratoga Derby, and failed to see out the distance last time in the Jockey Club Derby. The other Brown/Klaravich runner–Standard Deviation (Curlin)-won two of his last three since trying the turf, including his latest in Monmouth's Jersey Derby over 8 ½ furlongs Aug. 18.

Bloom Racing Stables' Henley's Joy (Kitten's Joy) annexed the Belmont Derby over the summer and finished fifth in a pair of starts since in the Saratoga Derby and Jockey Club Derby. Dylan Davis is at the helm from post 1.