Mind Control could go in Wood or Bay Shore

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Mind Control is under consideration for both the Wood Memorial and the Bay Shore Stakes on the April 6 card, trainer Gregg Sacco said Friday.

The Bay Shore is run at seven furlongs.

Mind Control won the Grade 1 Hopeful at seven furlongs last summer and the Jerome Stakes going a one-turn mile here on New Year’s Day. Most recently, Mind Control finished second, beaten one length, in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes, also at a one-turn mile, on March 9.

Mind Control has 30 qualifying points to the Kentucky Derby, which puts him eighth in the standings with plenty of points up for grabs. But his connections, the Red Oak Stable of Steve Brunetti, may opt to keep him around one turn and point to Grade 1 races such as the Woody Stephens at Belmont on June 8 and the Allen Jerkens at Saratoga on Aug. 24.

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Sacco said a decision on where Mind Control runs next would probably be made Monday after he has a workout over the weekend.

If Mind Control goes in the Wood, he would need a new rider. John Velazquez is committed to ride Outshine, the Tampa Bay Derby runner-up, in the Wood.

Sacco did say that Joevia, second to Alwaysmining in the Private Terms Stakes at Laurel on March 16, is a candidate for the Wood. Joevia has run only three times, winning his debut last July and finishing second to Haikal in the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes going seven furlongs in February.

“He came out of the Private Terms great,” Sacco said. “He handled the two turns, he handled the ship.”