Keeneland Sales Alumni Spiced Perfection, A Thread of Blue Top Weekend Graded Stakes Entries

Keeneland sales alumni and graded stakes winners Spiced Perfection and A Thread of Blue lead fields for the La Canada (G3) at Santa Anita and Tropical Turf (G3) at Gulfstream, respectively, on Saturday.

Spiced Perfection is the morning-line favorite for the La Canada following her win in the Go for Wand (G3) on Dec. 7 at Aqueduct. The Smiling Tiger mare won the Madison (G1) and Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) at Keeneland last year. 

Graded stakes winner A Thread of Blue finished second in the Hill Prince (G2) at Belmont in his last start. He is one of six Keeneland sales graduates in the Tropical Turf field, which also includes multiple graded stakes winner Maraud.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11

LA CANADA S. (G3), Santa Anita, 1 1/16 Miles, 4YOs & Up, F&M

ZUSHA, 5YO mare by Congrats – Icy Tea ($45,000 RNA to Sale, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Clearsky Farms, agent; Buyer- Rafael Steinbruch) O- Rafael Steinbruch; B- Clearsky Farms (KY); T- Gary Mandella

MESSAGE, 4YO filly by Warrior’s Reward – Song’n Dance ($30,000, 2016 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- VanMeter-Gentry Sales, agent; Buyer- Global Thoroughbreds) O- Baoma Corporation; B- C. Kidder & N. Cole (KY); T- Bob Baffert

SPICED PERFECTION, 5YO mare by Smiling Tiger – Perfect Feat ($1.35 million RNA, 2019 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- ELiTE, agent) O- Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable & Peter Deutsch; B- Premier Thoroughbreds (CA); T- Peter Miller

MARSHUA’S RIVER S. (G3), Gulfstream, 1 1/16 Miles (T), 4YOs & Up, F&M

PIECE BY PEACE, 4YO filly by Declaration of War – Be My Prospect ($280,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Eaton Sales, agent; Buyer- Mike Ryan, agent) O- Jeff Drown; B- Samac (KY); T- Rodolphe Brisset

MAGIC STAR, 4YO filly by Scat Daddy – Meadow Breeze ($500,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Betz Thoroughbreds, agent; Buyer- Don Alberto Corporation) O- Don Alberto Stable; B- Betz, D. J. Stables, CoCo, Burns & Magers (KY); T- Chad Brown

TROPICAL TURF S. (G3), Gulfstream, 1 Mile (T), 4YOs & Up

EMPIRE OF WAR, 4YO colt by Declaration of War – Shehadmefromhello ($110,000 RNA, 2016 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Bluewater Sales, agent) O- Three Diamonds Farm; B- Mr. & Mrs. Kirk Wycoff (KY); T- Michael Maker

MARAUD, 5YO horse by Blame – Unbridled Empire ($100,000, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Penn Sales; Buyer- Crupi’s New Castle Farm) O- Collinsworth Thoroughbred Racing; B- John Penn & Frank Penn (KY); T- Joseph Orseno

GUNNISON, 5YO horse by Bernardini – Madame Du Lac ($60,000 RNA, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Hinkle Farms) O- Gunpowder Farms & Hinkle Farms; B- Hinkle Farms & Darley (KY); T- Kelly Rubley

TUSK, 7YO gelding Tapit – It’s Midnight ($335,000 RNA, 2014 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Lane’s End, agent) O- Jordan Wycoff; B- Flaxman Holdings (KY); T- Saffie Joseph Jr.

A THREAD OF BLUE, 4YO colt by Hard Spun – Enthused ($150,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Lane’s End, agent; Buyer- Merites Stable) O- Leonard C. Green; B- Flaxman Holdings Ltd. (KY); T- Kiaran McLaughlin

EXULTING, 7YO gelding by Tapit – Magical Feeling ($500,000, 2014 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Dromoland Farm, agent; Buyer- John Ferguson) O- Michael Hui, Hooties Racing & WSS Racing; B- Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds (KY); T- Michael Maker

LAS CIENEGAS S. (G3), Santa Anita, 5½ Furlongs (T), 4YOs & Up, F&M

STORM THE HILL, 6YO mare by Get Stormy – Thornhill ($275,000, 2017 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Bluewater Sales, agent; Buyer- Alastar Thoroughbreds) O- Alastar Thoroughbred Company & Michael Valdes; B- Kimberly & William Bradley (KY); T- Philip D’Amato

FREE COVER, 4YO filly by Congrats – Candybedandy ($65,000, 2016 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Woodford Thoroughbreds, agent, Buyer- Springhouse Farm; $130,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Paramount Sales, agent, Buyer- JSM Equine) O- ERJ Racing; B- SF Bloodstock (KY); T- Andrew Lerner