Mind Control, Haikal nearing end of long layoffs
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Mind Control and Haikal, stakes-winning 3-year-olds at last winter’s Aqueduct meet, both put in workouts on a very busy Friday morning at Belmont Park, preparing to return from lengthy layoffs and get ready for their 4-year-old campaigns.
Mind Control, a Grade 1 winner at 2 and 3, worked a half-mile in 50.21 seconds over the Belmont Park training track – one of 214 works over that track Friday. He worked in company with the claimer Iywaan. Mind Control, who won the Jerome and Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct earlier this year, is targeting the Grade 3, $150,000 Toboggan at seven furlongs here on Jan. 18 for his return.
Mind Control has not raced since he won the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens at Saratoga on Aug. 24.
“Every work he’s just picking it up and picking it up and getting fitter,” trainer Gregg Sacco said.
Sacco said he thought about bringing Mind Control back in the $100,000 Gravesend here on Dec. 22, but decided to get more work into the horse before running him.
Also working for Sacco on Friday was Joevia, who has not run since he finished third in the Belmont Stakes on June 8. Joevia went a half-mile by himself in 50.06 seconds. He, too, will be nominated to the Toboggan but could go out of town for his next start.
“They’re both really training well,” Sacco said. “It looks like they’re going to turn into some really strong 4-year-olds.”
Joevia was beaten a neck by Haikal in last February’s Jimmy Winkfield Stakes at Aqueduct.
Haikal went on to win the Grade 3 Gotham and finish third to Tacitus in the Wood Memorial. He was scratched from the Kentucky Derby with a foot injury. On Friday, Haikal worked a half-mile in 49.57 seconds in company with the 3-year-old filly Enliven.
Haikal has had 10 workouts since September and is among the 13 nominees to the Gravesend, though it’s uncertain if that’s where he’ll return.
“He’s doing really well, “ said Joe Lee, assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “He looks good. He’s come back good so far.”
