Mind Control joins Pletcher barn, targets John Nerud Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Mind Control, who won Grade 1 stakes at 2 and 3 for trainer Gregg Sacco, has been moved to Todd Pletcher.

Mind Control, a 5-year-old son of Stay Thirsty, has lost his last eight races, including a seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs on May 1. On Saturday, Mind Control worked a half-mile in 48.30 seconds over the Belmont Park training track.

Pletcher said that Mind Control would be pointed to the Grade 2, $250,000 John Nerud Stakes here on July 4.

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Mind Control won the Grade 1 Hopeful in 2018. Basin won the Grade 1 Hopeful in 2019 for trainer Steve Asmussen. Basin was moved last year to Pletcher.

Basin most recently finished eighth in the Churchill Downs. Pletcher said Basin is being pointed to the Grade 3, $150,000 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park on June 12.

◗ Valiance, the Grade 1 Spinster winner who finished second to Monomoy Girl in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff last November, will make her first start of the year in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps on June 5 at Belmont, Pletcher said. She worked five furlongs in 59.60 over the Belmont Park training track Saturday morning.