Mind Control training for Carter at Palm Meadows

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Mind Control won two stakes at Aqueduct at age 3 and two more here at 4. So, it makes perfect sense that his connections are targeting Aqueduct for Mind Control’s 5-year-old debut.

Though based in South Florida for the winter, Mind Control is preparing for the Grade 1, $300,000 Carter Handicap here April 3. It will be Mind Control’s first start since he finished third in the Mr. Prospector Handicap on Dec. 19 at Gulfstream Park.

“He runs well fresh, he’s 4 for 5 at Aqueduct, which is probably his favorite track,” trainer Gregg Sacco said Friday.

Mind Control is a two-time Grade 1 winner at Saratoga, having taken the Hopeful at 2 and H. Allen Jerkens at 3. At Aqueduct, Mind Control won the Jerome and Grade 3 Bay Shore at 3 and the Toboggan and Tom Fool – both Grade 3s – at age 4.

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Mind Control finished his 4-year-old season with six straight losses, though two of those races came over sloppy tracks, the type of surface over which he has never performed well.

Following the Mr. Prospector, Mind Control got some time off. He was scheduled Saturday to have his third work since returning to Sacco at Palm Meadows, a training center in Boynton Beach, Fla.

“He couldn’t look any better,” Sacco said. “We had a couple of hiccups last year with the weather. Hopefully, luck will be on our side and he comes through for us.”

Sacco said Mind Control could ship north in time to have his final workout at Belmont, a week out from the Carter.

◗ Jockey Jorge Vargas Jr. was suspended five NYRA racing days for his ride aboard Steam Engine in the seventh race on Feb. 25. Though Vargas and Steam Engine finished first by four lengths, Vargas was suspended for causing interference with eventual fourth-place finisher Dark Money.

Steam Engine was disqualified and placed fourth.

Vargas has appealed the suspension.