Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
A Thread of Blue goes longer
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin hopes A Thread of Blue’s speed might serve him better going longer, which is why he entered him in Sunday’s $1 million Saratoga Derby at 1 3/16 miles.
A Thread of Blue has yet to run farther than 1 1/16 miles, something he accomplished successfully in the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream in March. Since then he was beaten three-quarters of a length in the Grade 2 American Turf at 1 1/16 miles and finished fourth in the Grade 2 Penn Mile when either on or near the early lead.
“I think a firm turf course is important,” McLaughlin said. “He’ll be able to shake loose, or if he doesn’t shake loose, be in second with some space. Going a mile I feel like you’re hustling, hustling, hustling all the time.”
A Thread of Blue was one of 11 3-year-olds entered in the Saratoga Derby, the second leg of the Turf Trinity inaugurated this year by the New York Racing Association. The series began with the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby and concludes with the $1 million Jockey Club Derby at Belmont on Sept. 7.
The Saratoga Derby includes the top five finishers from the Belmont Derby, topped by upset winner Henley’s Joy, who beat Social Paranoia by threequarters of a length. The Chad Brown-trained duo of Rockemperor and Digital Age finished third and fourth, breaking from post positions 14 and 13, respectively.
Seismic Wave, fifth, beaten 3 3/4 lengths as the favorite in the Belmont Derby, is also in this field.
Cape of Good Hope finished eighth in the Belmont Derby for Aidan O’Brien, who has sent him and Mohawk here for this race. Mohawk is coming off a Group 3 victory in Ireland.
Eons, winner of four straight, including the Grade 3 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park; Flying Scotsman; and Kadar complete the field.
The Saratoga Derby will go as race 9 on an 11-race card that includes the Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack Stakes for juvenile fillies; the Grade 3 Waya for fillies and mares on turf; and the rescheduled John Morrissey Stakes for New Yorkbred sprinters.
Empire 6 to debut Wednesday
Beginning Wednesday at Saratoga, the New York Racing Association will offer the Empire 6, a jackpot-style wager modeled after the Rainbow 6 that has become a popular bet at other tracks such as Gulfstream Park.
The Empire 6, a 20-cent minimum bet, requires the bettor to select the winner of six consecutive races, typically the last six races on a card. If there is only one winning ticket, the entire pool is paid out to the winner. If there is more than one ticket selecting all six winners, 75 percent of the net pool is paid out with 25 percent carried over to the next card.
The Empire 6 replaces the traditional pick six, which was a $2 minimum bet. The takeout on the Empire 6 is 20 percent. The takeout on the previous pick six was 15 percent on noncarryover days and 24 percent on days when there was a carryover. The Empire 6 has been approved for the remainder of the Saratoga meet but NYRA is expected to seek approval for the wager at Belmont and Aqueduct as well.
NYRA has designated Aug. 18 and Sept. 2 as mandatory payout dates for the Empire 6.
“The Empire 6 provides the potential for large payouts with an entry point that makes it attractive to all levels of handicappers,” said Tony Allevato, president of NYRA Bets. “Bettors have gravitated to this style of wager and we are pleased to be able to offer it at Saratoga along with the benefit of two mandatory payout days during the meet.”
The existing pick six, with the $2 minimum wager, will conclude on Sunday with a mandatory payout.
Two-day pick six this weekend
The NYRA will offer a two-day pick six this weekend consisting of all stakes races. That wager will be a 20-cent minimum bet, have a 15 percent takeout, and a mandatory payout.
The wager will consist of the Grade 1 Test, Grade 1 Whitney, and the De La Rose from Saturday’s card and conclude on Sunday with the Grade 3 Waya, Saratoga Derby, and Grade 2 Adirondack.
There will still be the traditional $2 pick six offered on both Saturday and Sunday.
◗ Uncontested, the Grade 3 General George winner, drilled six furlongs in 1:11 over Saratoga’s main track Thursday morning. He went from the halfmile to the wire in 45.42 seconds and continued out through five furlongs in 58.10 and six furlongs in 1:11.
It was the second straight fast work at Saratoga for Uncontested, who has gone winless in three starts since taking the Grade 3 General George at Laurel when he was trained by Jennifer Patterson. He is now trained by Tom Amoss.
“We want to run at Saratoga,” said Amoss, who said he would talk to the owners about a possible start in the Grade 1 Forego here Aug. 24.