Mind Control edges Firenze Fire in John Nerud Stakes
ELMONT, N.Y. - Grade 1 winners Mind Control and Firenze Fire were head and head for every step of the seven furlongs of Sunday’s Grade 2, $250,000 John Nerud Stakes, but it was Mind Control, on the outside, who got his head on the wire first in a stirring conclusion to Belmont Park’s July Fourth program.
The two finished 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Three Technique, who was followed by Top Seed, Wicked Trick, and American Power. Doubly Blessed scratched.
Mind Control, making his first start for trainer Todd Pletcher while being reunited with John Velazquez, ended an eight-race losing streak, and in the process earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.
Firenze Fire had a two-race winning streak snapped and lost for just the fourth time in 11 starts at Belmont Park. His previous seven wins here were all in stakes.
What looked like a match race on paper played out that way on the track. Firenze Fire was sent off the 2-5 favorite in part because of his affinity for Belmont, which included a front-running victory in the Grade 2 True North here four weeks ago. He broke from the rail that day and while he dueled with Flagstaff, he was able to beat that recent Grade 1 winner by 1 1/2 lengths.
On Sunday, Firenze Fire had the rail again. He broke sharp under Irad Ortiz Jr., but Velazquez, breaking from post 2 with Mind Control, was not going to let him get away. The two were a head apart through a quarter in 23.65 seconds and a half-mile in 46.03.
“We knew we needed to get away, we also knew the favorite was going to have to establish position from the rail, we didn’t want to let him steal anything,” Pletcher said. “When he broke as alertly as he did it put him in a really good spot.”
Mind Control and Firenze Fire were inseparable turning for home. While Mind Control was maintaining a straight course, Firenze Fire was coming out just a touch. In the end, the bigger Mind Control, perhaps benefitting from being on the outside, prevailed.
Mind Control covered the seven furlongs over a good track in 1:21.94 and returned $12.60 to win.
“I knew there wasn’t much speed, I used him good enough to put a head in front of the other horse,” Velazquez said. “Irad came to me and I sat there. it was a two-horse race, I thought anyway, so we went from there and my horse was a little bit better than the other one today.”
Ortiz felt the difference may have been post position.
“When we break he was right beside me. I said it’s going to be a match race, I know it,” Ortiz said. “Unfortunately, we were inside today. I think my horse, the outside is probably better for him, but no excuses.”
While Mind Control is now a five-time winner at seven furlongs, Firenze Fire is 1 for 8 at that distance. The Breeders’ Cup Sprint, which is likely the year-end goal for both horses, is run at six furlongs.
Seven eighths “is his distance and the Breeders’ Cup isn’t seven-eighths,” said Kelly Breen, the trainer of Firenze Fire. “It was a great race, that’s a nice horse, onto the next one.”
The Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt going six furlongs on July 31 could be next for Firenze Fire, while Mind Control will likely wait for the Grade 1 Forego at seven furlongs on Aug. 28.