Shancelot tires and Mind Control pounces in H. Allen Jerkens Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Gregg Sacco and the connections of Mind Control knew exactly what they’d signed on for when they stuck with their long range plan to run in Saturday’s $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at Saratoga: a meeting with the seemingly unbeatable Shancelot off his jaw-dropping 12 1/2-length victory here four weeks earlier in the Grade 2 Amsterdam.

But when Superman began to hit a wall of kryptonite near midstretch, the Grade 1 Allen Jerkens suddenly became anyone’s race. And in the end it was Mind Control who had his nose down first on the wire, narrowly defeating the fast-closing Hog Creek Hustle, with the 1-5 Shancelot finishing just another nose farther back in third.

The victory was the second in as many starts at Saratoga for Mind Control, who is owned by his breeder, Red Oak Stable, and Madaket Stable. Mind Control held on for a three-quarter-length victory here a year ago in the Grade 1 Hopeful.

With his regular rider John Velazquez back aboard after a one-race absence, Mind Control raced within easy striking distance of the pacesetting Shancelot, who set reasonable early splits of 23.14 and 45.58 for the opening quarter- and half-mile of the seven-furlong Allen Jerkens. Mind Control swung out to the middle of the track turning into the stretch, and surged between horses as the leader began to shorten stride near midstretch.

Hog Creek Hustle, who finished full of run to upset the Grade 1 Woody Stephens in his previous start 11 weeks earlier at Belmont Park, came widest of all while advancing into the stretch.

Mind Control, a son of Stay Thirsty, finished eighth after stumbling at the start of the Woody Stephens. His connections opted to skip the Amsterdam for an easier spot at Laurel July 14 in the Concern Stakes, where Mind Control again ran into considerable trouble before finishing third as the 2-5 choice.

Mind Control completed seven furlongs in 1:21.43 over the fast track and paid $22.80 on Saturday.

“His last two trips were so brutal,” said Sacco. “The Woody was a nightmare. We knew that wasn’t him that day. He stumbled at the gate, and at the quarter pole he got sawed off. We thought the Amsterdam would be a tough heat, and as it turned out it was an unbelievable heat. So we picked the easier spot in Maryland, partly because we wanted the extra two weeks before coming back here for this race, which is the one we wanted since the Woody Stephens.”

Speaking of Shancelot, Sacco said: “We knew he was coming here off that unbelievable performance. But you still have to go into the starting gate and run the race. Our horse is just so gutsy. And Johnny is the best. He saved a little and moved him at the right time.”

Jorge Navarro, who trains Shancelot, said: “He just got beat. That’s horse racing. He’s still a winner to me. I felt good in the stretch, but it’s just one of those things. As long as he comes back good, we’ll be fine.”