Connections confident Mind Control can rate in Breeders' Cup

Veteran trainer Greg Sacco had planned to give Mind Control, his winner of Saratoga’s historic Hopeful Stakes (G1), a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. But the barn adjusted its approach when the Stay  Thirsty colt spiked a fever the first weekend of October.

Sacco scratched out of Keeneland's Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and trained him up to the race.

“He’s matured over the last couple of months. We’re very pleased with all his training,” Sacco said. “He’s filling out in all the right places. We had a little hiccup with the temperature at Keeneland. We just turned the page.

"Once he got back to Monmouth, he had three solid works coming into the Cup. We can’t be any happier with his training, his energy level, the way he’s developing as he’s getting close to being a 3-year-old. We’re just very pleased with everything.”

Mind Control was bred by the Brunetti family’s Red Oak Stable and is co-owned by Red Oak and Madaket Stable. Sacco, who trained the dam, Feel That Fire for Red Oak, watched the colt gallop over the sealed track at Churchill Downs Thursday morning.

“The two turns and maybe a wet track are a little bit of question marks, but I don’t see the distance limitations or the track being a factor with him” Sacco said. “We’ve galloped him in the mud at Monmouth and he’s gotten over the track really well.

“We’re happy where we’re at. It’s a good field. Game Winner, Complexity, Code of Honor are impressive horses, but we’ve got a really good colt, too. I don’t think he needs the lead. He rated in his second start at Monmouth, that was sprinting. He’s very smart and he’s not a run-off type of horse. If someone wants to go he can sit off of it. I think we’ll be forwardly placed. When the running starts we’ll see if he’s good enough.

“We know he’s a talented horse. We’ll see if a mile and a sixteenth is within his scope. You don’t know until you try it. We’re happy where we are right now.”

Mind Control was second to eventual stakes winner Call Paul in his debut July 5 at Delaware Park. He broke his maiden Aug. 12 at his home track, Monmouth, and went to Saratoga for the Hopeful Sept. 3.

Irad Ortiz Jr. picks up the mount on the 20-1 shot who will start from post seven.