Trainer J. Willard Thompson will send two to the gate for Quiet Winter Farm, Blue Y Gold and Uplifting, as they look the grab the victory in Saturday’s $40,000 allowance optional claiming feature going six furlongs on the Monmouth Park main track.

            Blue Y Gold is coming off back-to-back defeats by less than a length to fellow entrant Fire Mission including just missing in the final strides by a nose in an optional claiming event on Aug. 13. Prior to that start, he finished fourth by three-quarters of a length in a blanket finish on July 23. Antonio Gallardo was aboard for both those races and will get the call again Saturday.

            The 7-year-old gelding by Mutakddim out of the Luhak mare Bromita has hit the board in three of his four starts over the Monmouth dirt in 2017 with two seconds and a third.

            “He just missed last time and has been doing well since,” said Thompson. “He seems like he is getting better with each start and has been training well. He will probably run his normal style and sit back and make one good run at the end.”

            Blue Y Gold has worked once since his narrow defeat in his latest try. That breeze came on Aug. 27 when he went four furlongs in :48 1/5, fourth fastest of the 52 horses hat went the distance on the day.

            Thompson’s other entry in the field, the last out claim Uplifting, will make his first start for the barn after leading the entire way before getting caught in the shadow of the wire by a nose at Monmouth last time out on Aug.13.

            The 3-year-old son of Jersey Town out of the Bertrando mare Encouragement has finished second in both of his starts over the Monmouth Park dirt and has only missed the board once in his 11 starts this year. His last win came two back when he took an optional claiming field gate-to-wire in a five and a half furlong dash at Laurel Park.

            Uplifting has worked once for his new connections. That work also came on Aug. 27 when he went four furlongs in :48 4/5 over the fast main track. Wilmer Garcia will get the mount for the first time on Saturday.

            For either one of the Thompson pair to get to the winner’s circle, they will have to defeat morning-line favorite Ostrolenka, for trainer David Jacobson, who has finished first or second in four straight starts including stakes placings in the John Morrissey at Saratoga and the Decathlon at Monmouth.

            The feature will run as race 10 on Saturday’s 11-race card. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. with first post set for 12:50 p.m.