Mind Control targets Woody Stephens Stakes
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Mind Control came out of his 1 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Bay Shore Stakes in good order and will now target the Woody Stephens Stakes on the June 8 Belmont Stakes card. The Woody Stephens, run at seven furlongs, was elevated to Grade 1 status for the first time this year by the American Graded Stakes Committee.
Trainer Gregg Sacco believes that Mind Control has gotten better from the winter through the spring, but he still hears people saying that he’s been more fortunate than good. Mind Control won the Grade 1 Hopeful last summer, the listed Jerome in January and was a solid second to Haikal in the Grade 3 Gotham in March.
“He doesn’t get a lot of respect,” said Sacco, who added he hears analysts say, “It was a paceless Hopeful, a paceless Jerome, he had a perfect trip in the Gotham.
“He just continues to show up. Maybe he’ll start earning the respect he deserves.”
Mind Control stalked the pacesetting Much Better in the Bay Shore until the eighth pole and outfinished that rival. He ran seven furlongs in 1:23.57 and earned a 97 Beyer Speed Figure.
:: Shop for PPs, picks, DRF+ and more in our store!
“Being able to rate is going to be a big factor going forward,” Sacco said.
Sacco said Joevia, who was disqualified from seventh in the Wood Memorial and ordered unplaced by the stewards after interfering with half the field, came out of the race okay. Sacco said he likely won’t run Joevia again for about six weeks.
Sacco said jockey Nik Juarez “tapped him on the shoulder leaving there, and he got away from him. It didn’t get any better after that. It was painful to watch.”
On Sunday, the New York stewards suspended Juarez for 15 racing days and fined him $2,500. The suspension will be reduced to 10 days if Juarez waives his right of appeal. Juarez, who was riding at Gulfstream on Sunday, has until Wednesday to inform the stewards whether he plans to appeal.
