Mind Control fires bullet for Woody Stephens Stakes
ELMONT, N.Y. – Three-time stakes winner Mind Control worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 on Friday at Monmouth Park, the fastest of 11 works at that distance. Mind Control is preparing for the Grade 1, $400,000 Woody Stephens on the June 8 Belmont Stakes undercard.
“He worked super, cooled out great,” trainer Gregg Sacco said. “His weight is fantastic, his energy level is great, the spacing is good for him.”
The Woody Stephens will be Mind Control’s first start since he won the Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes on April 6 at Aqueduct.
“It wasn’t a taxing race on him, but he ran hard,” Sacco said. “He’s put on a ton of weight since the Bay Shore.”
Sacco said Mind Control would have one more work at Monmouth before the Woody Stephens and ship to Belmont about three days before the race.
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Pacific Gale breezes for Bed o’ Roses
Pacific Gale, beaten a neck in the Grade 3 Vagrancy Handicap on May 11, tuned up for the Grade 3, $250,000 Bed o’ Roses Invitational on June 7 by working four furlongs in 49.55 seconds on Friday over the Belmont Park training track.
Under regular rider Joe Bravo, Pacific Gale went her first quarter in 25.09 and got her second quarter in 24.46.
“That was easy for her,” trainer John Kimmel said. “Joe said she feels like a keg of dynamite. He didn’t want to ask her.”
Pacific Gale has finished second in three of her last four starts, all Grade 3 stakes.
In the Bed o’ Roses, Pacific Gale was beaten by Heavenhasmynikki, who is being pointed to the Grade 2 Princess Rooney Stakes on June 29 at Gulfstream Park. Trainer Bob Hess said he hopes to use that race as a springboard to the Grade 1 Ballerina on Aug. 24 at Saratoga.
