Mind Control

Mind Control is pointed towards the Sentient Jet Juvenile after upsetting the field in the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga in his third career start.

He made his debut at Delaware Park. The brown colt led early, but finished second to Call Paul. In their next tests, Call Paul won the Saratoga Special Stakes, and Mind Control notched a victory at Monmouth Park, winning by three lengths on August 12.

The Hopeful Stakes was one of the biggest career wins for trainer Gregory Sacco, whose father William was Monmouth’s leading trainer in 1962.

"It’s my first Grade 1 [win] so it’s real special,” Sacco said. “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."

Sacco, who has saddled two Breeders’ Cup contenders, believes Mind Control is ready for the additional distance of the 1 1/6 mile Juvenile.

"I don’t think the distance will give him limitations. 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.”

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez agrees.

"He settled pretty easy along the backstretch and got settled to the turn," Velazquez said. "Once we reached the three-eighths 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."

Mind Control is the son of Stay Thirsty, who won the Travers Stakes and the Cigar Mile Handicap and placed second in the Belmont Stakes. He is bred and owned by Red Oak Stable, which was founded by John Brunetti Sr., the late owner of Hialeah Park and handed down to his sons. Sol Kumin’s Madaket Stables became a partner in the horse after his win at Monmouth.