Mind Control works five furlongs for Gotham Stakes

Mind Control ramped up his preparations for the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 9 by working five furlongs in 1:01.44 Sunday morning over Belmont Park’s main track.

After his last four workouts were by himself, Mind Control worked in company Sunday with the unraced 3-year-old Powerfully Built.

Mind Control, with Chris DeCarlo in the saddle, started about five lengths behind Powerfully Built. Mind Control went his opening quarter in 23.19 seconds.

Mind Control drew alongside his stablemate at the eighth pole and finished about two lengths in front at the wire, completing a half-mile in 47.16 seconds.

Mind Control went out another eight in 14.28 seconds.

“Just wanted him to have a target today,” said trainer Gregg Sacco, who moved up the work by one day to avoid a potential bad track on Monday. “He’ll have one or two more works depending how he comes out of this.”

Sacco did confirm that John Velazquez will keep the mount on Mind Control for the Gotham.