Mind Control Opts For Bay Shore Over Kentucky Derby Bid

After the grade 1-winning Mind Control finished second in the Gotham Stakes (G3), the best guess was that the 3-year-old's connections would use the one-turn mile as a steppingstone to New York's definitive Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) prep, the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2).



But, apparently, Kentucky Derby fever did not take hold.



Instead of chasing the bright lights of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby was ruled out and the Hopeful Stakes (G1) winner owned by the Brunetti family's Red Oak Stable and Sol Kumin's Madaket Stables was entered in the $250,000 Bay Shore Stakes (G3), a seven-furlong sprint April 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack on the Wood Memorial undercard.



"It wasn't my decision," trainer Greg Sacco said. "It was made by my brother, Rick, the racing manager, and Steve Brunetti (of Red Oak). They felt at this stage in his development that this was the best path for Mind Control, knowing he's strong at seventh-eighths or a mile by the way he has performed."



Although the connections of the 11 starters in the Wood would have loved to see Mind Control in the field—his presence would have triggered a $250,000 purse bonus—Sacco agreed with the move to continue sprinting.



"I don't disagree. I see their point," he said. "They want to race him at 4, and a lot of horses get churned up during the Triple Crown. They thought it would be beneficial to get by the Bay Shore test, which will not be easy, and then we would point for the (seven-furlong) Woody Stephens (G1, June 8 at Belmont Park) to try to win a grade 1 at 2 and 3 and then stretch him out after that in a race like the Haskell (G1, July 20 at Monmouth Park)."



The trainer added that should the Kentucky-bred turn in a powerful effort in the Bay Shore, there could be a change of plans with the Preakness Stakes (G1) becoming an option.



"You never know. I certainly believe he belongs among the elite in the 3-year-old class," he said. "If he had a big run in the Bay Shore, I think they would at least consider the Preakness."



Sacco's confidence in Mind Control has been stoked by the way he has bounced back after a grueling runner-up effort in the Gotham. The son of Stay Thirsty  bred by Red Oak moved from sixth to engage Much Better and Instagrand for the lead in midstretch, but after running into a six-furlong fraction of 1:09.23, none of them was able to resist the final late charge of Wood starter Haikal, who blew past them in the final strides and won by a length.



"He's doing super. He could not have come out of the Gotham any better," Sacco said about a colt who opened 2019 with a win in the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct Jan 1 and had 30 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby. "It was a hard-fought race with fast fractions, and he kept his weight afterwards and everything is on cue. His first work after the race was faster than I wanted (four furlongs in :47 3/5 March 23), but he did it effortlessly. He's going into the Bay Shore better than the Gotham."



Though Mind Control will face only four 3-year-olds in the Bay Shore, it will be anything but an easy test for him. Much Better, who is trained by Bob Baffert, remained in New York after finishing fourth in the Gotham under Mike Smith—a half-length and a nose behind Mind Control—and returns in the Bay Shore.



"I want to cut back a little bit because I really think he has a lot of potential," Baffert said. "He has natural speed, and he went way too fast (in the Gotham). It was a ridiculous pace, and he didn't get beat very far. He could have easily won that race. So I think shortening him up a little bit, he can maybe relax."

Three Chimneys Farm's Much Better will be ridden by Victor Espinoza, who teamed with Baffert to win the 2015 Triple Crown with Zayat Stables' American Pharoah .



Adding to the quality of the small field is Swale Stakes (G3) winner Call Paul and Mucho, who was second in the Hopeful and won a March 1 allowance race at Gulfstream Park in his 3-year-old debut.



Grade 1 winner Discreet Lover returns in Excelsior



The $150,000 Excelsior Stakes (G3) figures to attract some attention among the five graded stakes on the 11-race card, largely because of Discreet Lover, the 2018 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) winner who will be making his 2019 debut for owner/trainer Uriah St. Lewis.



"He's coming back real strong and has been galloping good," said St. Lewis, whose 6-year-old horse won the Excelsior last year but has not raced since finishing eighth in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 3. "I think he'll be at his best. I think this will be his best year."



Also entered in the field of eight is Monongahela, who was second—a neck behind Bonus Points—in the John B. Campbell Stakes at Laurel Park Feb. 16.



The Aqueduct stakes can be seen on MSG and Fox Sports 2 during shows that run from 3-5:30 p.m. ET (MSG) and 4-5:30 p.m. (FS2). The MSG program will feature the Bay Shore, Excelsior, Gazelle Stakes (G2), and Carter Handicap (G1). FS2 will carry the Excelsior, Gazelle, and Carter.

Entries: Bay Shore S. (G3)

Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, April 06, 2019, Race 6

• Grade III
• 7f
• Dirt
• $250,000
• 3 yo
• 3:38 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Much Better (KY)	Victor Espinoza	118	Bob Baffert	9/5
2	2Mucho (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	William I. Mott	5/2
3	3Mind Control (KY)	John R. Velazquez	123	Gregory D. Sacco	2/1
4	4Call Paul (PA)	Manuel Franco	123	Jason Servis	3/1
5	5Mount Travers (KY)	Junior Alvarado	118	Linda Rice	20/1

Entries: Excelsior S. (G3)

Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, April 06, 2019, Race 7

• Grade III
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $150,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 4:11 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Nicodemus (KY)	Junior Alvarado	118	Linda Rice	5/1
2	2Holiday Bonus (KY)	Ruben Silvera	118	Gregory DiPrima	30/1
3	3Monongahela (PA)	Jose Lezcano	118	Jason Servis	5/2
4	4Hit It Once More (NY)	Carlos J. Hernandez	118	Gary Sciacca	15/1
5	5Tour de Force (KY)	Kendrick Carmouche	118	Rudy R. Rodriguez	15/1
6	6Discreet Lover (FL)	Manuel Franco	122	Uriah St. Lewis	9/5
7	7Shivermetimbers (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	Steven M. Asmussen	8/1
8	8Life's a Parlay (KY)	John R. Velazquez	122	Todd A. Pletcher	4/1