Two 'logical options' for Hopeful winner Mind Control's next race

When choosing between staying at Monmouth Park to run in the Sapling Stakes or shipping to Saratoga for the Grade 1 Hopeful, the connections of Mind Control felt their colt was ready for the next step. The son of Stay Thirsty proved them right, winning the Hopeful at 10-1 over favorite Mucho and Nitrous.

“The way he broke his maiden, the way he came out of the race and the way he trained, it just gave us every indication to go to Saratoga and to run in the Hopeful,” trainer Greg Sacco said by phone Thursday. “Fortunately for us things worked out great.”

Now back at his home base of Monmouth Park, Sacco said Mind Control will return to the track Friday morning to train while connections consider the next move, with the Nov. 2, Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile the goal. 

“I’ll have to consult with my brother, Richard Sacco, who’s the racing manager for Red Oak [Stable], and we’ll confer with Madaket Stables, Mr. [Sol] Kumin, and we’ll probably come up with a game plan in about the next 10 days moving forward,” the trainer said. “Just going to savor this. See how his energy level is and see how he’s training and then we’ll make a path.

"There’s some logical spots, but nothing’s written in stone at the present time.”

Possible next races include the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park and the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, both run Oct. 6. The Champagne is run at a mile, while the Breeders’ Futurity is 1 1/16 miles, the distance of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Sacco described Mind Control as “very in tune,” making him easy to train and responsive when asked to accelerate or take back.

“His best attribute, aside from being extremely talented, is he’s smart,” Sacco said. “He acts like an older horse. You almost don’t think you’re around a 2-year-old.”

In addition to winning a big race at Saratoga, the Hopeful was a special victory for Sacco, who notched his first Grade 1 as a trainer.

“It’s a trainer’s goal to win a Grade 1. It was a great feeling,” he said. “I’ve trained a lot of nice horses over the years and stake winners, but a Grade 1 is the crème de la crème. It’s the prize.”