Mucho would be handful in Hopeful with forward move

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In 2007, trainer Bill Mott won 11 races for 2-year-olds at Saratoga, capped by Majestic Warrior’s victory in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes. While less prolific, Mott’s three wins with his 2-year-old division at this year’s meet equals his best output in that category over the last 11 meets.

On Monday, Mott hopes to win his second Hopeful with Mucho, who heads a field of eight 2-year-olds, seven of whom are in search of their first stakes victory, in the closing-day feature at Saratoga. The $350,000 Hopeful, run at seven furlongs, goes as race 10 on an 11-race card that includes the Grade 2, $250,000 Bernard Baruch and brings to a close the 150th racing season at Saratoga.

Mucho, a son of Blame, finished second at Belmont Park on June 10 in his career debut. Eight weeks later, Mucho caught everybody’s attention with a powerful 9 3/4-length score going six furlongs over Saratoga’s main track. He earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure.

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Mott said in Mucho’s first race, the horse got away a little slowly, took some dirt while racing behind horses, and finished up well enough to finish 3 3/4 lengths behind Whiskey Echo.

“Once he got running, [Jose Ortiz] dropped him in behind horses, caught a little dirt,” Mott said. “I said, ‘See if he can get him to finish up a little bit,’ which he did. I didn’t want to run him off his feet and have him with his tongue hanging out at the wire. He came back and he worked very well, but I didn’t know he was going to move that far forward off the one race.”

Mott acknowledged that the quality of this field is better than the one he beat in that Aug. 4 maiden race.

“I suppose he can probably run the same race and it’s not going to look as pretty as it did the other day,” Mott said. “He’s been an awfully efficient mover.”

Mind Control, a son of Stay Thirsty, ships in from Monmouth for trainer Greg Sacco. Mind Control finished second to Call Paul in his debut at Delaware Park on July 5. Call Paul came back to win the Grade 2 Saratoga Special, while Mind Control came back to win a six-furlong maiden race by three lengths at Monmouth on Aug. 12.

“This time of the year, 2-year-olds can make leaps forward,” said Sacco, who is winless with 25 starters at Saratoga going back to 1998. “Off the last race and seeing Call Paul come back and win the Saratoga Special, we felt it was good timing to take a shot at the Hopeful. He’s not a big horse, but he has a beautiful way of going. I don’t think the seven-eighths will be an issue.”

Mind Control is bred and owned by Red Oak Stable. Sol Kumin’s Madaket Stable purchased a one-third interest following his maiden victory.

D. Wayne Lukas, who turned 83 on Sunday, hopes to celebrate Monday with a ninth Hopeful victory when he sends out the maiden Derby Date.

Derby Date, a son of Will Take Charge, ran twice in two weeks here, finishing seventh on July 28 and running second, beaten three lengths, on Aug. 11. Derby Date has since come back with two bullet works over the Oklahoma training track.

“He’s going to show another dramatic improvement,” Lukas said. “He wasn’t fit. I think he’s tight enough now.”

Sombeyay is the lone stakes winner in the field, having taken the Grade 3 Sanford here on July 21. Trainer Todd Pletcher, who has won the Hopeful twice, said Sombeyay has trained better going into this race than he did the Sanford.

Nitrous could prove the horse to catch if he shows the same speed he did in winning his maiden going 5 1/2 furlongs on July 21. Thatwouldbegrand ships up from Maryland for Dale Capuano and attracted this meet’s leading rider, Irad Ortiz Jr. Dream Maker, a debut winner on June 7 at Churchill, and Backtohisroots, who won a maiden claimer here on July 30, complete the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Mucho, by Blame
Beyers: 90-48

◗ He took over at the top of the lane Aug. 4 and won wrapped up under Jose Ortiz.

◗ Finished second to Whiskey Echo in his debut. Whiskey Echo came back to run third in the Sanford and second in the Ellis Park Juvenile.

Mind Control, by Stay Thirsty
Beyers: 80-74

◗ Mind Control dominated four rivals in a six-furlong maiden race, running a solid time of 1:09.79 at Monmouth Park.

◗ Lures John Velazquez, but this jockey-trainer combination is just 1 for 20 lifetime.

Derby Date, by Will Take Charge
Beyers: 70-53

◗ He has had two strong workouts since his runner-up finish in his second start.

◗ Good gate horse has the outside post under Luis Saez.