A Thread of Blue to Catch in Penn Mile

Len Green's A Thread of Blue (Hard Spun) shook off his pursuers and led to deep stretch of the GII American Turf S. last out before just getting run down late. Saturday at Penn National, the dark bay cuts back a crucial sixteenth of a mile and heads a competitive field of nine in the $500,000 GII Penn Mile S., the marquee race on the calendar at the Grantville oval.

Breaking his maiden third out in a Belmont off-the-turfer Oct. 7, the $430,000 OBS March buy filled out the trifecta in the Awad S. Nov. 4 at Aqueduct, his last defeat on grass until the American Turf. Rattling off front-running successes at Gulfstream in an optional claimer Dec. 22 and the Dania Beach S. Feb. 3, he showed a new dimension when rallying from off the speed to a score in the GIII Palm Beach S. Mar. 2.

August Dawn Farm's Forty Under (Uncle Mo) looks to build on an encouraging juvenile campaign in his second outing as a 3-year-old. Pulling a 20-1 upset in his turf bow Aug. 25 at Saratoga, the gray repeated in the GIII Pilgrim S. Sept. 29 at Belmont before checking in sixth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Debuting as a sophomore Apr. 20 in the Woodhaven S. at Aqueduct, he couldn't reel in loose leader Clint Maroon (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who runs in Saturday's GIII Pennine Ridge S. Saturday at Belmont, and settled for the runner-up spot.

Town and Country Racing and Gary Broad's Real News (The Factor) wheels back quickly for the Al Stall barn. Triumphing in his first two outings, one on dirt and one on turf, he stepped up to stakes company with a good second in the Palisades Turf Sprint S. Apr. 4 at Keeneland. Setting the pace two weeks ago in Pimlico's James W. Murphy S. in his first two-turn try, he was narrowly worn down late to be a half-length runner-up.

John C. Oxley's Moon Colony (Uncle Mo) rates an upset chance from the rail for the scorching-hot Mark Casse barn. Graduating from a wide draw at third asking Oct. 5 at Keeneland, he was off the board in a dirt try Oct. 28 at Churchill before notching a good-looking optional claiming tally Nov. 29 at Fair Grounds. Last seen running fifth in the Kitten's Joy S. Jan. 5 at Gulfstream, the $400,000 Keeneland September buy resurfaces with a slew of bullets in the holster, capped by a half-mile over the Belmont main track in :46 2/5 (1/20) May 24.