Silver State shortens up, Mind Control goes longer in Parx Dirt Mile

Grade 1 winners Silver State and Mind Control will go toe to toe in the $200,000 Parx Dirt Mile, one of eight stakes on Saturday’s Pennsylvania Derby card.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Silver State capped off a six-race winning streak with a victory in the Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont on June 5. In his subsequent start, Silver State finished third to Knicks Go and Maxfield in Saratoga’s Whitney on Aug. 7.

Asmussen had his choice between Saturday’s Grade 2 Kelso Handicap at Belmont and the Parx Dirt Mile for Silver State. A Kelso appearance would have returned the Hard Spun colt to the same course and distance of his Met Mile score.

“I didn’t want Ricardo [jockey Ricardo Santana Jr.] to ride one or the other,” Asmussen said referring to Pennsylvania Derby entrant Midnight Bourbon. “Silver State has been his horse for a long time. He knows the horse so well. Midnight Bourbon ran so well for him in the Travers. It’s an opportunity to go two turns with him with the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in mind.”

A multiple Grade 1 winner at seven furlongs, Mind Control races around two turns for the first time since the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

“He’s always trained like he would run farther,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “This could open up some options for him if he does well.”

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Mind Control finished fourth in Saratoga’s Forego on Aug. 28. “He was right there,” said Pletcher. “He didn’t get beat far.He kind of kept plugging away. He just couldn’t make an impact on them late.”

Grade 3 winner Warrior’s Charge disappointed when beaten 22 3/4 lengths in the Charles Town Classic on Aug. 27, but he finished a good second to Maxfield one start prior in the Stephen Foster.

West Will Power has upset potential after earning a career-best 101 Beyer when second to Grade 1 winner Code of Honor in Monmouth’s Philip H. Iselin on Aug. 21.

“His last two races, he’s run into some really nice horses,” said trainer Kelly Breen. “With some racing luck, I think he’s in a good spot.”

Dreams Untold, Thorny Tale, Rock On Luke, and Informative, cross-entered in the Kelso, complete the field.

Turf Monster

Caravel was installed as the 7-5 morning-line favorite in the Grade 3, $300,000 Turf Monster at five furlongs. A Grade 3 winner against fellow fillies and mares, Caravel finished third as the favorite in last month’s Highlander against males at Woodbine.

“I thought she ran very well,” trainer Graham Motion said. “She was a very short price, but in fairness to her, it was her first time running against males in a Grade 1 on an awkward track. We’d like to get her to the Breeders’ Cup, and this is a big step to get her there.”

Caravel set fast fractions in the Highlander. “She was quite sharp that day, which was not something I was expecting,” said Motion. “I had her up at Saratoga before the last race and I’m glad to get her back to Fair Hill, where she’s used to training.”

Firecrow hasn’t raced since grabbing the Jim McKay Turf Sprint at Pimlico on May 15. Trainer Ron Moquett told Daily Racing Form in July that Firecrow subsequently had a minor issue with the inside heel of his right front foot.

“We believe he’s training very well,” Moquett said Thursday. “I couldn’t ask him to do any better based on what I see in the mornings. The ultimate question will be whenever we get to the sixteenth pole.”

Carotari just missed when second in the Troy at Saratoga. In that race, he finished ahead of next-out Grade 3 winner Gear Jockey. “Hard not to like that,” said trainer Brian Lynch. “He ran a solid race.”

Lynch believes that Carotari “will be involved in the early pace” and that “he acts like he’s in a good place right now to be going into a $300,000 race.”

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Both Beer Can Man and Belgrano ship in sharp. The former returned from a 189-day layoff to take an allowance at Del Mar on Aug. 13. Belgrano recently enjoyed a perfect trip in winning the Rainbow Heir Stakes at Monmouth for trainer Frank Russo.

Smooth B, West Fork, Battle Station, The Connector, Hollywood Talent, and Admiral Abe complete the field. Amblin Man raced four days ago and might scratch. King’s House races main track only.

◗ Math Wizard looks to return to the winner’s circle for the first time since his surprise victory in the 2019 Pennsylvania Derby when he faces off with Todd Pletcher’s Moretti and a solid supporting cast in the Grade 3, $200,000 Greenwood Cup at 1 1/2 miles on the main track.

◗ Popular Chub Wagon races around two turns for the first time when she starts favored in the $200,000 Plum Pretty for Pennsylvania-bred fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles. A winner in nine of 10 starts, Chub Wagon won the Roamin Rachel Stakes by four lengths sprinting at Parx 19 days ago. “The way she runs, I think she can go long,” said trainer Guadalupe Preciado.

The Brad Cox-trained duo of Grade 2 winner Vault and Marion Francis are main contenders.

◗ A competitive field of Pennsylvania-breds close out the 13-race card in the $200,000 Alphabet Soup Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Multiple stakes winners Wait for It and Someday Jones are among the plethora of contenders.

– additional reporting by David Grening