Mind Control seeks repeat victory in Parx Dirt Mile

Mind Control snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in 2021’s Parx Dirt Mile. He defends his title Saturday in the $200,000 stakes for 3-year-olds and up.

The Parx Dirt Mile is among 10 stakes on the Saturday card at Parx Racing, headed by the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby and Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes.

A millionaire and multiple Grade 1 sprint winner, Mind Control proved himself around two turns here last fall. Passed in deep stretch by favored Silver State, Mind Control refused to quit and won by a head. He earned a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure.

Mind Control again showed determination in his third start of 2022 when he beat last year’s Pennsylvania Derby winner, Hot Rod Charlie, in Monmouth’s Grade 3 Salvator Mile in June. Mind Control finished third under John Velazquez in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic on Aug. 26.

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“He lost all chance at the start,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “Johnny said he wasn’t pleased with the way he was standing when they kicked it. It put us way out of position.”

Mind Control is expected to be one of the pacesetters in the Parx Mile.

Pletcher also entered Too Boss, a winner at Parx of his last two races. Too Boss rallied from midpack to win the mile and 70-yard Storm Cat for Pennsylvania-breds on Aug. 22.

“There was a lot of speed,” Pletcher said about the Storm Cat. “We tried to focus on getting him in the clear and had to sacrifice some ground loss. He was game.”

Derby House had a five-race win streak snapped when second in his stakes debut, the Grade 3 West Virginia Governor’s on Aug. 6 at Mountaineer. Derby House raced along the inside over a sloppy track in that 1 1/16-mile race, and trainer Juan Carlos Guerrero said that was not the place to be.

“We wanted to be outside,” he said. “The winner came around and pushed us inside.”

Milton the Monster finished fourth in the Rainbow Heir, a turf sprint Aug. 14 at Monmouth. That was his first start in about 2 1/2 months, and trainer John Servis called it a prep.

Completing the field are Dontmesawithme, Nick Papagiorgio, Far Mo Power, and New Commission.

Greenwood Cup

Pletcher trains Fearless, the expected favorite in the Grade 3, $200,000 Greenwood Cup for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/2 miles. Fearless won his last two starts, including Saratoga’s Birdstone at 1 3/4 miles on July 28. Fearless won the Birdstone, run over a good track, even though he didn’t like the track, Pletcher said.

“Even though he won, I don’t think that was him at his best,” Pletcher said.

Magic Michael stretches out to 1 1/2 miles for the first time since winning this race last year. Most recently, he ran third in a pair of stakes and then second in an allowance race. Trainer Jamie Ness said the Greenwood Cup has been the goal all year for Magic Michael.

Ridin With Biden earned a 100 Beyer in Laurel’s Deputed Testamony in July. He then finished fourth in the Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin on Aug. 20 at Monmouth. The Greenwood Cup is his first start at longer than 1 1/8 miles. Paco Lopez picks up the mount.

“He has a high cruising speed,” trainer Butch Reid said. “If he gets a moderate pace and he’s forwardly placed, I think he’ll be able to do it.”

The Reds also stretches out to a marathon distance for the first time. The Reds “doesn’t have that quick gear,” according to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. “He’s more steady, and that’s why we’re trying 1 1/2 miles.”

Western River won a first-level allowance at this distance June 18 and was beaten double-digit lengths in stakes in his last two starts. Trainer Rodolphe Brisset said the 3-year-old pulled off both shoes in the early going of his most-recent start, the Grade 3 Dueling Grounds Derby on turf at Kentucky Downs.

Brooklyn Strong is cross-entered at Pimlico, but runs here, according to trainer Victor Barboza Jr. The other starters are Bossmakinbossmoves, Double the Heart, and Forewarned.

◗ Chub Wagon, a winner in 12 of 14 starts, adds blinkers in the $200,000 Plum Pretty for Pennsylvania-bred fillies and mares at a mile and 70 yards. Leader of the Band, one of three in the race trained by John Servis, looms the horse to beat after capturing the Summer Colony at Saratoga.

◗ Flor de Sombra looks like a speedy contender in the $200,000 Imply for Pennsylvania-bred juvenile fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs. Other contenders include stakes-placed maiden Marion Grace and impressive debut winner Midnight Parade.

◗ Two sharp Pennsylvania-bred juveniles square off in a field of nine in the $200,000 Prince Lucky at 6 1/2 furlongs. Gordian Knot, a seven-length debut winner, meets Ninetyprcentmaddie, winner of the Whistle Pig on Aug. 22.

◗ Trainer Guadalupe Preciado saddles Buy Land and See against defending champ You Must Chill in the $200,000 Alphabet Soup for statebred 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

– additional reporting by David Grening

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