Mind Control

Mind Control gave trainer Gregory Sacco his first career Grade 1 win in the 2018 Hopeful Stakes on Saratoga’s Labor Day closing card with a game score over favored Mucho.

The Stay Thirsty colt finished second in his debut at Delaware Park in July, and then shipped to Monmouth and posted an eye-catching three-length win.

In the Hopeful, he set a pressured pace and held off Mucho’s closing charge under a skillful ride from John Velazquez. After a disappointing effort in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Mind Control began his 3-year-old campaign with a win in the Jerome Stakes on New Year's Day, earning 10 2019 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. He followed with another solid effort on the Derby trail when second to Haikal in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes on March 9 at Aqueduct. The runner-up finish gave him 30 qualifying points for the first jewel of the Triple Crown.

Cutting back in distance to seven-eighths of a mile for the Grade 3, $250,000 Bay Shore Stakes on April 6, Mind Control reeled in Much Better in deep stretch and put him away in the final sixteenth of a mile for a determined 1 1/4-length victory.

Mind Control finished a nonthreatening eighth in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens Stakes in June at Belmont Park before finishing third by a neck in the Concern Stakes at Laurel Park in July. He regained his peak form in his next start when he closed powerfully to reel in undefeated Shancelot in the final strides of the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes Presented by Runhappy Aug. 24 at Saratoga.