Mind Control looking for a little luck in Cigar Mile

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Gregg Sacco believes circumstances more than anything else have contributed to Mind Control losing his last five races. He caught sloppy tracks twice, and had a troubled trip in the Mr. Prospector at Monmouth and the Lafayette at Keeneland in his two most recent starts.

In his other defeat, he was beaten just 1 3/4 lengths by Volatile in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga.

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Sacco confirmed Mind Control as a starter for the Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Dec. 5 following a five-furlong workout in 1:01.93 Sunday morning over the Belmont Park training track.

After breaking off an opening eighth in 14 seconds, Mind Control picked it up and got his last quarter in 23.54 seconds, while galloping out six furlongs in 1:15.71.

“I don’t think he’s lost a step or anything,” Sacco said. “We have to make our own luck. I know the Cigar Mile is not going to be an easy task, but he’s a super-talented horse. We just got to catch a fast track and I think he’ll run his race.”

Mind Control is 4 for 5 over Aqueduct’s main track, with victories in the Jerome and Grade 3 Bay Shore in 2019 and the Toboggan and Tom Fool in 2020. Mind Control is a two-time Grade 1 winner, having captured the Hopeful at 2 and the H. Allen Jerkens at 3 at Saratoga.

Performer, a winner of five straight, and Firenze Fire, an 11-time stakes winner, head the prospective Cigar Mile field. Mr. Buff, King Guillermo, True Timber, and Bon Raison are the others expected.