Mind Control has Velazquez back in saddle for Jerome Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Last January, the Grade 1 winner Firenze Fire took the New York path to the Kentucky Derby, kicking off his 3-year-old season with a victory in the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct.

On Tuesday, Mind Control, who won last summer’s Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga, will try to follow suit when he heads a field of six entered in the $150,000 Jerome, the feature of a nine-race New Year’s Day program at the Big A.

Mind Control, like Firenze Fire in 2017, finished seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Mind Control, who scratched out of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity in early October after spiking a temperature following a ship to Kentucky, again was hampered by a fever after shipping to Churchill Downs from New York for the Breeders’ Cup.

Trainer Gregg Sacco opted to base Mind Control in New York for the winter, in part to take advantage of Aqueduct’s 3-year-old program that includes one stakes a month offering qualifying points to the May 4 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The Jerome offers 17 points (10-4-2-1) to its top four finishers for the Derby.

Sacco is happy to reunite Mind Control on Tuesday with John Velazquez, who won the Hopeful in his only time aboard the son of Stay Thirsty.

In the Hopeful, Velazquez had Mind Control right into the race from the start, and he survived a pace battle with Nitrous and a midrace bid from the favored Mucho.

Sacco believes Mind Control will once again be involved early in the Jerome, a one-turn-mile race.

“I anticipate him being right in the mix from the beginning,” Sacco said. “He’s always been good in the gate. His first three races, he came out of the gate running. I think he’s going to come out of the gate running.”

On paper, it looks like Souper Jackpot and Gates of Dawn will be forwardly placed. However, Mark Casse, the trainer of Souper Jackpot, said he would like to see Junior Alvarado take his horse slightly off the pace Tuesday.

“Our horse, he’ll sit just off of them; that’s what I want him to learn,” Casse said.

Our Braintrust, who won the Tremont Stakes in June at Belmont, returns to New York for his second start off a six-month layoff. On Dec. 8, he finished second to Alwaysmining in the Maryland Juvenile Futurity going seven furlongs. Cal Lynch, the trainer of Our Braintrust as well as 2017 Jerome winner El Areeb, said he felt Laurel’s main track was a bit speed-favoring that day and compromised his colt’s chances.

“He’s one of those horses that can switch off and come from behind,” Lynch said. “I think they last longer if you can get them to sit back and make one run. He doesn’t mind being inside or outside, wherever you want to put him.”

Jason Servis, who trained Firenze Fire, sends out Direct Order, a winner of two straight six-furlong races.

Servis believes that as a son of New Year’s Day, Direct Order has the pedigree to run long.

“I really don’t think he wanted to sprint. He was just getting it done,” Servis said.

Servis’s brother, John, trains Gates of Dawn, who finished second to Direct Order first time out before winning a maiden race at Parx Racing by three lengths Nov. 17.

Family Biz, a maiden winner going seven furlongs here Nov. 10, completes the field.

◗ The popular NYRA calendar, typically available for purchase at Aqueduct on New Year’s Day, will not be offered this year owing in part to uncertainty over the racing schedule at NYRA tracks in 2019, according to a NYRA spokesman.

KEY CONTENDERS

Mind Control, by Stay Thirsty
Last 3 Beyers: 64-84-79

◗ Cuts back to a one-turn race after running seventh following a poor break in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

◗ Has the speed to be prominent from the outset.

◗ Shows a series of solid workouts over the Belmont main track.

Our Braintrust, by Freud
Last 3 Beyers: 76-73-58

◗ Developed a shin issue after winning the Tremont.

◗ Had some mucus in his lungs after finishing second in the Maryland Juvenile Futurity. Alwaysmining, winner of the Maryland Juvenile Futurity, came back to win Saturday’s Heft Stakes at Laurel.

Souper Jackpot, by Ghostzapper
Last 3 Beyers: 84-81-40

◗ Had a slight injury after finishing 11th in his debut at Churchill in June.

◗ Was a very game pace factor when second by a neck to favorite Garter and Tie in the Smooth Air Stakes on Dec. 8 at Gulfstream.

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