McLaughlin likes A Thread of Blue on the cutback in Hill Prince

Stakes winners A Thread of Blue and Dawn the Destroyer breezed in company on Thursday at Belmont Park and came out of it in good order, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. The duo worked a bullet four furlongs in 47.47 seconds on the main track, the fastest of 38 at the distance.

Leonard Green's A Thread of Blue will look to parlay that strong work into success in the Grade 2, $400,000 Hill Prince on October 5 at Belmont. The 1 1/8-mile contest on the inner turf will be A Thread of Blue's first start since competing in the final two legs of NYRA's newly implemented Turf Triple series for sophomores, which included a win in the middle jewel in the Saratoga Derby on August 4 before running fourth last out in the 1 1/2-mile Jockey Club Derby Invitational on September 7.

The son of Hard Spun will be cutting back in distance and looking for firmer grass after running last out on turf labeled good. A $430,000 purchase at the 2018 Ocala Breeders' Sale, A Thread of Blue has won three races and came in second in six starts in his 3-year-old campaign, including a victory in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Palm Beach in March at Gulfstream Park and the Saratoga Derby in which he posted a personal-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure in the 1 3/16-mile route. He also ran a close second, three-quarters of a length back to Digital Age, in the Grade 2 American Turf in May at Churchill Downs.

"He worked great yesterday and he'll be cutting back in distance," McLaughlin said. "It doesn't look like there's much rain in the forecast. He prefers it firmer, and it looks like he's going to get it. He looks good, and the mile and an eighth [should] help."

McLaughlin said he hasn't finalized the next spot for Dawn the Destroyer, who had her first workout since running second to Come Dancing by 3 ½ lengths in the Grade 1 Ballerina on Travers Day, August 24, at Saratoga.

Owned and bred by Stonestreet Stables, the 5-year-old daughter of Speightstown has finished in the money in six of her last seven starts, including a victory in the Interborough in January at Aqueduct Racetrack. She has finished third in three graded stakes races this year, starting with the Barbara Fritchie in February at Laurel Park and continuing in the Grade 3 Distaff Handicap in April at the Big A and the Grade 3 Bed o' Roses Invitational in June at Belmont.