By Bloodhorse.com
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (Sept. 3, 2018) — After securing the first grade 1 win of his career with Mind Control in the $350,000 Hopeful Stakes Sept. 3 at Saratoga Race Course, trainer Gregory Sacco’s thoughts turned to his father.
“It’s my first grade 1 so it’s real special,” Sacco said after Mind Control, a Kentucky-bred by California stallion Stay Thirsty, held off favorite Mucho in the stretch of the Spa’s top race for 2-year-olds. “I’m the son of a trainer. My dad never had the opportunity to train these types of horses. It’s very meaningful. It’s a great feeling. I have my whole family here and I can’t be any happier.”
The win would follow Mind Control being tested throughout, but the son of classic-placed Stay Thirsty would find more in the stretch to edge favorite Mucho and secure a three-quarter-length victory in the Hopeful. Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables’ Mind Control completed the seven-furlong test in 1:22.99 under jockey John Velazquez.
Mind Control would race just behind Winchell Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stables’ Nitrous through a quarter-mile in :22.96 with Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider homebred Mucho, favored off a dazzling maiden win of nearly 10 lengths Aug. 4 at Saratoga, rating comfortably in third. Soon after a half-mile in :45.68, that two-horse duel would become a three-horse battle as Mucho would make his move three wide under Jose Ortiz.
Those three formed a line across the track in early stretch. In midstretch, Mind Control would edge away from his two rivals, an advantage that would prove enough to hold off a too-late charge from Mucho.
The Hopeful marked the third start for Mind Control, who finished second in his maiden special weight debut July 5 at Delaware Park after leading early. In his second start, the son of classic-placed Stay Thirsty drew off in the stretch to post a three-length victory in a six-furlong maiden test at Monmouth Park.
The victory gave Sacco his first graded stakes victory since 2010. He thought Mind Control deserved a shot at the top level after showing a push-button ability in his first two starts.
“He has gears. He ran a great race against [eventual Saratoga Special Stakes Presented by Miller Lite (G2) winner] Call Paul [in the Delaware debut] and then at Monmouth, but then you have to do it on the big show,” Sacco said. “We had a lot of horse at the quarter pole. Johnny said he was actually waiting a little bit. He’s still a little green and learning.”
Of course lessons come fast for juvenile runners and the win had Sacco thinking about the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).
“I’ll have to discuss it with the [owners], but I would think so. I don’t think the distance will give him limitations,” Sacco said. “The way he’s trained and galloped out last race, he’s just a genuine horse. He has a ton of ability. The main thing is that he’s so smart. He acts like an older horse and does everything right. For a young horse, it’s a big plus. He’ll go back tomorrow morning to Monmouth. We’ll savor this win and go from there.”
In prevailing over seven rivals, Mind Control paid $22.20 to win, $7.80 to place, and $5 to show. Mucho returned $3.10 and $2.40 to place and show while Nitrous paid $3.50 to show.
Velazquez also sensed that racing intelligence from the winner.
“He settled pretty easy along the backstretch and got settled to the turn,” Velazquez said. “Once we reached the three-eights pole and I asked him, he was full of run. I was real proud of the way he finished he came on and never relinquished.”
Red Oak Stable, founded by the late owner of Hialeah Park John Brunetti Sr., also is the breeder of Mind Control. Bred in Kentucky, Mind Control is the third winner and first stakes winner out of Feel That Fire, by Lightnin N Thunder. Feel That Fire is a full sister to stakes winner Ima Jersey Girl.