Winner of Saratoga's GI Hopeful S. last summer, Mind Control (Stay Thirsty) is being pointed to the GIII Gotham S. at Aqueduct Mar. 9. The Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables colorbearer is unraced since he took down the one-mile Jerome S. Jan. 1, also at Aqueduct. Prior to that, he had gotten a brief freshening after encountering trouble at the start of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and faltering to finish seventh.
“It always helps the horse to have time between races, it's just the way it worked out,” trainer Greg Sacco said. “We skipped the [GIII] Withers S. to run in the Gotham. We're happy where he is with his training and where he's at physically. The two months is beneficial and we're coming in with a fresh, strong horse for the Gotham.”
Mind Control has been steadily working at Belmont Park, including a four-furlong move in :49.25 this past Monday.
“Knock on wood, he's right on schedule and we can't be doing any better,” Sacco said.
The Gotham is an official race on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” and will award 50 points to the winner, 20 points to the runner-up, 10 points for a third-place finish, and five points for a fourth-place finish. Mind Control has already secured 10 points with his Jerome victory.
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