Hopeful winner Mind Control targets Breeders' Futurity

The connections of Mind Control have decided to give the Grade 1 Hopeful winner a two-turn test in his next outing ahead of a potential start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Trainer Greg Sacco said Monday that the 2-year-old will head to the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland set for Oct. 6. The race is a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and runs at 1 1/16 miles, the same distance as he'd have to go in the championship race Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs. It also pays qualifying points toward the 2019 Kentucky Derby.

Jockey John Velazquez will have the return call.

“He’s had two solid works since the race," Sacco said of Mind Control. "He’s got one more work to go at Monmouth and then if all goes well he’s scheduled to fly out of New York on the 2nd (of October) into Lexington in preparation for the Futurity on the 6th."

Mind Control returned to the work tab Sept. 17, two weeks after his Hopeful win. The Stay Thirsty colt breezed half a mile in 48.40 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01 over his home track, Monmouth Park. He worked again Sept. 23, hitting “a two-minute lick” alone the first-half mile before registering four furlongs in 49.00 with company.

The one-mile Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park, run the same day as the Futurity, was also under consideration after Mind Control won the Hopeful.

“They’re both races that anyone would want to win," Sacco said. "The Champagne is a great race and rich in tradition, so is the Futurity in Kentucky. I guess the only deciding factor was the two-turn race at Kentucky. If he runs a good race we’ll go on to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.”

If Mind Control heads to the Breeders’ Cup, he could either fly home to Monmouth first or remain in Kentucky to train. Mind Control is owned in partnership by breeder Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables, LLC. Sacco will make a decision with his brother and Red Oak Stable racing manager, Richard Sacco, on where the colt will go.

“It’s up in the air,” Sacco said. “It’s a lot of flying around within a short span of time. We may lean to keep him in Kentucky if all goes well in the Futurity.”