Kentucky Derby 2019 Daily: Mind Control camp welcomes a test

Welcome to Horse Racing Nation’s Kentucky Derby Daily, which will each day leading up to the May 4 race at Churchill Downs detail all the news and notes related to contenders in one convenient space.

Mind Control sized up as the early favorite for Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes by exiting the Jan. 1 Jerome with a local victory on the 2019 Kentucky Derby trail. But while California invaders changed the feature’s makeup, trainer Gregg Sacco stuck with his plan to keep his colt around a one-turn mile on Saturday in New York.

Sacco, who trains Mind Control for Red Oak Stable’s and Madaket Stables, is choosing to embrace the presence of a horse like Instagrand, who is 2-for-2 with open-lengths wins on the West Coast and making his 3-year-old debut in the Gotham.

“He’s a really talented horse, and we thought some horses would come. He’s arguably one of California’s best,” Sacco said. “You expect for a Derby prep that it’s going to be a tough race. I think it’ll be a good race all the way around and a great race to watch, and you see what you have afterwards.

“From a trainer’s standpoint, of course you would like the easiest race possible for your horse, but then again it’s all about competition – Instagrand, the New York horses, Bob Baffert’s sending in Much Better, an improving colt. So that’s what it’s all about. You like to go up against the best horses and trainers and see what you have.”

Mind Control has been on or near the lead in most of his races, including a Hopeful Stakes (G1) victory to put him on the map at age 2. While seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Sacco blamed the trip, kept the horse on the Derby trail and was rewarded with a victory on New Year’s Day in the Jerome as Mind Control returned to a comfortable position controlling the pace.

“He doesn’t like to get passed,” Sacco said. “He’s a horse that I feel if some speed materializes – I believe he’ll be forwardly placed in the Gotham – but we’ve worked him off a couple horses prior to the Gotham here, broke off a couple stablemates five, six lengths in front of him, let him take some dirt and have a target.

“He had no problem with any of that. If a couple horses are really gunning for the lead, we’ll leave it up to Johnny (Velazquez), but we won’t have a problem sitting off a pace if need be. He’ll be forwardly placed regardless, but if that materializes I think we’ll be prepared for it.”

Mind Control, who has been training at Belmont Park this winter, turned in his final work over the dirt training track March 1. Clockers caught him in 49.89 for a half mile.

Velazquez, who piloted Mind Control in the Hopeful and Jerome, will be back on board Saturday. The Hall of Famer also rides Code of Honor, who won the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) last weekend at Gulfstream Park.

The Gotham will be run at a mile around one turn, the same as the Jerome, with Derby points offered on a 50-20-10-5 scale to the first four finishers. It marks the longest career race for Instagrand, while Much Better has not won past 6 1/2 furlongs, scoring at that distance on Feb. 9 in a Santa Anita allowance optional claiming race.

As with Mind Control, Much Better has proven he likes to be on or near the pace, while Instagrand wired the field in his two races, winning by a combined 20 ¼ lengths.

“I see why Instagrand’s coming. It’s one turn. He’s really talented. Looks like his preparation has been spot on,” Sacco said. “I’m sure he’s ready, and everybody in there will have to be ready, but I feel that our colt is a much better colt now than before the Jerome.

“Just the way he’s training and physically he’s stronger. He’s all there mentally. So we’re going to the race with a colt that we have that couldn’t be doing any better in Mind Control and we look forward to running on Saturday.”

Should Mind Control come out of the Gotham in good order, Sacco is considering Aqueduct’s Wood Memorial (G2) and Keeneland’s Blue Grass Stakes (G2) as final Derby prep options. Both races are run April 6 at 1 1/8 miles. Sacco said he is leaning toward the Wood because Mind Control has run well at Aqueduct and wouldn’t require a ship. Additionally, the race’s purse would jump from $750,000 to $1 million with the presence of a Grade 1 winner.

Derby links

• With the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) joining the Gotham on Saturday’s prep lineup, get free past performances for the Kentucky Derby preps.

• For more on Instagrand, owner Larry Best spoke Friday, and as usual, his comments were interesting, including that, “I still don't know if he's a sprinter or a two-turn horse.”

• Horse Racing Nation staffers provided their Tampa Bay Derby picks, with support for Dream Maker, the Mark Casse trainee, evident.

• Our Super Screener handicapping system sides with Somelikeithotbrown at Turfway Park, where underneath plays are key to cashing in the Jeff Ruby Steaks.

• And finally, Sacco has a second 3-year-old colt who he’s dreaming of saddling the first Saturday in May. Meet Joevia, a late addition to the Derby Radar.

In case you missed it…

Thursday’s Derby Daily report featured an update on the possibility of a split Rebel Stakes (G2) in light of suspended racing at Santa Anita Park. If they both ship, would Game Winner and Improbable still get matched up?