Alvarado picks up Tom Fool mount on Mind Control

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – With John Velazquez committed to ride at Tampa Bay Downs next Saturday, Junior Alvarado has picked up the mount on Mind Control for Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct.

Mind Control came off a five-month layoff to win the Grade 3 Toboggan by a nose under Velazquez on Jan. 18. It was the sixth win from 11 starts for Mind Control, with five of those wins coming with Velazquez up.

Trainer Gregg Sacco said he is looking to use the Tom Fool as a way to have Mind Control ready for the Grade 1 Carter here on April 4.

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Sacco prefers a race for Mind Control rather than “having to keep working him” leading up to the Carter. He added the Carter “will be his third start off the layoff and that’s a very strong angle from a trainer’s standpoint.”

“Hopefully, we can build him up for the Carter,” he said. “We know it’s going to be a pretty tough race.”

Weights for the Tom Fool are to be released on Sunday. Others under consideration for the race include Bon Raison, Happy Farm, Wentz, and Wonderful Light.