Bal Harbour to Take on Mind Control in Iselin Stakes

For trainer Gregg Sacco, the Aug. 22 Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park is as much personal as it is business.

Sacco will send out Bal Harbour in the 1 1/16-mile race in what will mark the 5-year-old First Samurai gelding's second start for the veteran conditioner since getting the horse from Todd Pletcher in March—and his latest attempt to earn an elusive graded stakes victory.

The $200,000 Iselin Stakes is named for one of the founders of Monmouth Park and a past president of the racetrack.

"We're all aware—me, my brother Rick, the Brunettis (owners of Bal Harbour)—of what a prestigious race this is on our home track," said Sacco, who will be starting a horse in the Iselin Stakes for the first time. "Jimmy Iselin, Phil Iselin's son, worked for my father in the late 1950s in high school walking horses. In fact, he remembers all of my dad's stakes horses. Every time I see him, he names four or five.

"We have a wonderful relationship with the Iselin family, especially Jimmy Iselin. His father was a pioneer and was one of the reasons Monmouth Park was built. So it's very meaningful to us. We hold the Iselin family in the highest regard."

Bal Harbour has been consistent in his 20-race career with a record of 5-5-4. He has earned $582,505 for Red Oak Stable.

But despite racing in graded stakes company in his past eight races, Bal Harbour has yet to break through.

"He's a hard-trying horse," Sacco said. "If any horse is deserving of winning a graded stakes race, it's him. He's had two super works since his last race. We're very happy where we are going into this race."

Off a seven-month layoff, Bal Harbour placed third in the July 18 Monmouth Cup Stakes (G3), his only start of 2020.

"I thought that race was super," Sacco said. "He's a little bit of a tough horse to ride. Last year when Mike Smith rode him for Todd Pletcher in the Monmouth Cup, he thought he had War Story measured. He came up to him and hung with him. He got beat a head.

"This time Mike said he thought he had the Monmouth Cup won again. He went right up to (race winner) Global Campaign, put a half-length in front of him, and kind of dug his toes into the ground. So it was a little disheartening."

Bal Harbour, who was second in last year's Iselin, will have Joe Bravo aboard from the rail.

"He's a pleasure to train. He's a real pro," Sacco said. "Todd did a great job with him, and we'll continue to build off that. Joe rode him last year, so he knows the horse. It's just a matter of timing the move right, timing it late. Like I said, he deserves a graded stakes win."

Bookending the six-horse field in the outside gate is Sacco's other entry, Mind Control, Bal Harbour's main competition.

Unlike his stablemate, Mind Control has had a productive year, though he finished third last time out in the July 25 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. The 4-year-old son of Stay Thirsty  has competed at the top level in three of his past five starts, capping last season with a win in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1), also at the Spa. He also won two grade 3 stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack this year before placing sixth in the June 6 Runhappy Carter Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park.