Champagne a possibility for Hopeful winner Mind Control

ELMONT, N.Y. – While acknowledging the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park on Oct. 6 would be the logical next step, trainer Greg Sacco said Wednesday he is not in any hurry to confirm a fall campaign for Hopeful Stakes winner Mind Control.

Mind Control shipped back to his base at Monmouth Park on Tuesday, one day after his three-quarter-length victory over favored Mucho in the Grade 1 Hopeful on closing day at Saratoga. Sacco said Mind Control came out of the race “really good” and that he would likely return to the track toward the end of the week or over the weekend.

Sacco said he would evaluate how the horse is training before deciding where to run him next. In addition to the Champagne, a one-turn mile, the options would include the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity, a two-turn 1 1/16-mile race at Keeneland also on Oct. 6, or possibly just training up to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 2.

“The natural progression would be the Champagne, one turn, of course, then on to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile,” Sacco, who won his first Grade 1 race Monday in the Hopeful, said by phone Wednesday. “Nothing’s written in stone, but it definitely would be logical.

“When you have a nice horse the options are there. It’s a nice position to be in.”

In the Hopeful, Mind Control, ridden by John Velazquez, dueled with Nitrous for more than five furlongs before pulling away from that rival in midstretch and easily holding Mucho at bay through the final sixteenth. Mind Control covered the seven furlongs in 1:22.99 and earned an 84 Beyer Speed Figure.

“Johnny thought he had a lot of horse,” Sacco said. “When he spurted away inside the last 50 yards he kind of loafed. Mucho made a little surge, but we galloped out really good. His energy level the next day was terrific, bounced out of it well.”

If he runs in the Champagne, Mind Control would most likely run against Call Paul, the horse who beat him when both debuted in a maiden race at Delaware Park on July 5. Call Paul, trained by Jason Servis, came back to in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on Aug. 12.