Gulfstream Stakes Recaps: Dania Beach, Sweetest Chant

By David Joseph —-

A Thread of Blue Wires Field in $100,000 Dania Beach

Stays Unbeaten on Gulfstream Turf with First Career Stakes Win

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Leonard Green’s A Thread of Blue, narrowly favored over 10 rivals in his sophomore debut, jumped out to the lead and never looked back to register his first career stakes victory in Sunday’s $100,000 Dania Beach at Gulfstream Park.

The 11th running of the Dania Beach was the first of two one-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds on a 12-race program, followed by the 23rd renewal of the $100,000 Sweetest Chant (G3) for fillies.

It was the second straight front-running victory over the Gulfstream turf for A Thread of Blue ($6.20), who completed the distance in 1:34.96 over a firm course. It was 3 ½ lengths back to stakes winner Louder Than Bombs, who rallied on the inside and outlasted a late bid from 2018 Bourbon (G3) winner Current by a half-length for second.

Championship Meet-leading rider Luis Saez was aboard for both wins. Their first time together, they went gate-to-wire to win a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer by 2 ¾ lengths Dec. 22 in his 2-year-old finale.

“The last time he was sharp and he broke. Today, it didn’t look like there was anyone to bother him, but maybe [Ole Mole]. It worked out for us,” winning trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “When you talk about route races and turf, a lot of them are lacking pace, and we are the pace.”

A Thread of Blue, sent off at 2-1, broke sharply from Post 6 and was quickly in front, going the opening quarter-mile in 23.36 seconds with 70-1 long shot Ole Mole on the outside and Stirling Drive, at 50-1, on the inside battling for second.

Saez and A Thread of Blue remained in command after a half in 47.66 as Stirling Drive took up the stalking spot and was switched outside to challenge as they left the backstretch. Stirling Drive was unable to make up any ground and they straightened for home with A Thread of Blue still in front, opening up on the field through the stretch.

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

Purchased for $430,000 as a 2-year-old in training last March, A Thread of Blue debuted on the dirt last summer at Saratoga, finishing sixth. He broke his maiden in an off-the-turf sprint in October at Belmont Park and was third in the one-mile Awad Stakes on the grass there in November before his pre-Christmas Gulfstream score.

The $150,000 Palm Beach (G3) at 1 1/16 miles on the grass for 3-year-olds, one of nine graded-stakes worth $1.65 million in purses on Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth (G2) Day March 2, is the likely next spot for A Thread of Blue.

“He’s a really nice horse who trains great. I was worried about [Ole Mole] having speed, but we broke well and they left us alone. It was just very impressive,” McLaughlin said. “We’ve always liked him. He’s obviously liking Gulfstream, so we’ll probably stay on this turf and run back in a month.”

A Bit Special ‘Very Special’ in Sunday’s Sweetest Chant (G3)

A Bit Special notched her third straight stakes triumph and first graded-stakes success with a dominating performance in Sunday’s $100,000 Sweetest Chant (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

The Sweetest Chant, a mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies, co-headlined Sunday’s 12-race program with the $100,000 Dania Beach, a mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds won by A Thread of Blue.

Trained by Patrick Biancone for owners Linda Shanahan, Mrs. M. V. Magnier and J. P. Magner, A Bit Special ran a mile over a firm turf course in 1:35.62 to prevail by 2 ½ lengths under Julien Leparoux.

The Great Britain-bred daughter of Mukhadram’s fourth win in five career starts was somewhat bittersweet for her connections, however. In her first four races, She was ridden by apprentice Romero Maragh in her first four races, in which she had won three and lost a photo finish in the other. Maragh broke two vertebrae in a racing spill last week and underwent successful surgery
“The only thing sad is Romero is in the hospital. This makes me sad. They ask me why I’m not smiling and it’s because the kid is injured. It’s tough,” Biancone said. “Except that, she’s very special. She’s kind of a machine.”

Away from the starting gate alertly, A Bit Special gained stalking position outside pacesetter Eyeinthesky, who set fractions of 23.92 and 48.36 seconds for the first half mile while showing the way around the first turn and along the backstretch under John Velazquez. On the far turn. Regal Glory and jockey Jose Ortiz applied pressure while racing three-wide, prompting Leparoux to ask the 2-1 favorite for some run. She responded to take the lead on the turn into the homestretch, turn back the challenge of Regal Glory and draw off to win comfortably.

“She had a good trip. She broke good. She went easy all the way. She’s a nice filly. She has goods tactical speed and a good finish – that’s what you need with those big horses,” Leparoux said.

“I just have to mention about Romero. I feel bad for him. He’s a young kid who will come back stronger, but we all think about him,” he added. “The surgery went good, so that’s the most important thing.”

Chad Brown-trained Regal Glory held second, 1 ¾ lengths ahead of late-closing stablemate La Feve.
A Bit Special’s five victories have all come over the Gulfstream Park turf course.

“I noticed today the first two races on the inside track the front-runner won. I told Julien to get her out of there and hopefully somebody covers you. She had no cover, but it didn’t bother her much. She kicked home like when she comes from behind,” Biancone said. “She’s very, very special.”

Biancone has no immediate target for A Bit Special.

“I am going to let her cool down and see. We space her races [every] two months. We’re not in a rush. She could be anything. She should be unbeaten. The race when she got beat she lost 10 lengths at the start and she only got beat a nose,” Biancone said. “She’s special and she’s a lovely animal to be around. When they’re good like that, it’s fantastic for the team.”

$100,000 Sweetest Chant (G3) Quotes

Trainer Patrick Biancone (A Bit Special): “The only thing sad is [apprentice jockey] Romero [Maragh] is in the hospital. This makes me sad. They ask me why I’m not smiling and it’s because the kid is injured. It’s tough. Except that, she’s very special. She’s kind of a machine.”
“I noticed today the first two races on the inside track the front-runner won. I told [jockey] Julien [Leparoux] to get her out of there and hopefully somebody covers you. She had no cover, but it didn’t bother her much. She kicked home like when she comes from behind. She’s very, very special.”
“I am going to let her cool down and see. We space her races [every] two months. We’re not in a rush. She could be anything. She should be unbeaten. The race when she got beat she lost 10 lengths at the start and she only got beat a nose. She’s special and she’s a lovely animal to be around. When they’re good like that, it’s fantastic for the team.”

Jockey Julien Leparoux (A Bit Special): “She had a good trip. She broke good. She went easy all the way. She’s a nice filly. She has good tactical speed and a good finish – that’s what you need with those big horses.”
“I just have to mention about [Regular jockey] Romero [Maragh, who was injured in a spill last week]. I feel bad for him. He’s a young kid who will come back stronger, but we all think about him. The surgery went good, so that’s the most important.”

Winning time: 1:35.62
Winning margin: 2 ½ lengths