Whoever gets angry Flight route headed to the barn after only six races so be a member of Mind control Fan club.
6 year old son of Thirsty was indeed a hindrance in durability, although even the typical young star of the 1950s and 1960s did not have a career as long as his.
At the age of 2, he was fast enough to win the Stakes of Hope (G1), a bet usually unrelated to horses that were still productive in upperclass races in 5th and 6th. The son of breeder Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables has maintained his form as time goes on, winning another 1st place at age 3, H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1). Then, instead of being a stallion, he kept racing—and winning the grader bets—at 4, 5, and even this year at 6, making him the first Hope winner. first won the graded bet at 6 since then silver car in 2007 .
Even more telling, of the last 16 Hope winners now aged 4 or older, only Mind Control, 5 years in a row graded stakes winner, Circular winner Filmed in 2006 and winners in 2020 Jackie’s Warrior also won bets graded 3 and 4.
Steve Brunetti, operations manager for Red Oak, said: “It’s very rare that a 1st place winner at 2 and 3 is still out there and won a grade 6 bet. proud that we bred him and of what he has achieved.”
However, as Brunetti goes on to say, “all good things must come to an end,” which explains all of the emotions Brunetti and Sol Kumin of Madaket Stables are experiencing as Mind Control approaches. the 29th and final start in the $750,000 Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) December 3 at Aqueduct race track.
“It’s sad and I get emotional thinking about his last race,” Brunetti said of the $1.7 million earner. “He’s one of the best horses around. It’s unbelievable to think that he’s one of the favorites in the Cigar Mile as a 6-year-old and I greatly appreciate it. appreciate what he did for us. He brought us so much joy.”
(LR): Stephen Brunetti and Rick Sacco
Mind Control has won 11 times, with all seven of his graded bet wins coming since Kumin bought a third of his shares for his Madaket partner group, which includes owner New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, before the horse started for the third time, his victory in 2018 Hope.
“He’s a fighter. There aren’t many like him and they’re fun,” said Kumin. “Every year he has one or two of those races when he’s back in top form. He’s a great horse to be in. What a great horse he is. He’s going to be. He’s like some of the other horses I’ve been on that have liked your cookie heart and Whitmore durable and runs very well for a long time. They are the ones you miss and are hard to replace.”
That warrior in him has emerged to the top in at least two races that resonated with Brunetti.
A year ago at Parx Dirt Mile Stakes, he was overtaken by Silver Bang , who had won Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) two matches earlier, only to hit back and win by head. Then earlier this year in the Salvator Mile Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Parkhe caught up with the person who made 5 million dollars Charlie’s Hot Stick nearest pursuit. In the eighth column, Hot Rod Charlie briefly took the lead, but once again Mind Control’s determination and fighting spirit came into play and he found a device. last to catch and overtake Hot Rod Charlie and win by head, the margin of victory the last three times he crosses the rope first.
Mind control (inside) prevails over Silver State in Parx Dirt Mile Stakes 2021 at Parx Racing
“Being beaten for long periods of time and coming back to win is something you don’t often see in a bet,” says Brunetti. “Maybe in the claimants, but not in the stakes. That shows how much heart he has.”
The Salvator Mile is part of a successful fifth and final year of racing in a remarkably stable career.
the son of Lightning N Thunder mare Feel that fire was originally coached by Gregg Sacco, brother of Red Oak race manager Rick Sacco, who coached him through two 1st place wins and 7 wins in 20 starts before he was transferred. to Pletcher’s barn in the summer of 2021 so he can stay. New York.
“Gregg has done a great job and he will give him time on our Ocala farm whenever he needs it,” Brunetti said. “And Rick has done an excellent job of managing and planning his career.”
Under Pletcher’s lead, Mind Control took its first win out of the new warehouse, taking John A. Nerud Stakes (G2) and then being sent to Del Mar for 2021 Big Ass Fans’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), only scratched by fever.
Rick Sacco leads Mind Control to the winner’s circle after the 2021 John A. Nerud Stake in Belmont Park
“A lot of the credit for Mind Control’s success goes to Gregg Sacco,” says Pletcher. “We got him late in his career. You don’t have many honest horses like him.”
This year, Mind Control also missed the Breeders’ Cup, but that’s part of the game plan. After the 6-year-old won his second straight win in the Parx Dirt Mile on September 24—this time by disqualification—Pletcher pushed to point to Cigars instead of Breeders’ Cups to improve Mind Control a little bit and help him play better. chance to sign up for an extra 1st class win.
“He likes the Aqueduct and runs really well, so we were locked in the Cigar Mile for a while,” said Pletcher, noting that Mind Control went 4-2-1 in seven games that started at Big A. and four wins and a second in five overall starting at a mile. “He is a pleasure to train. He is a super professional horse and loves his job. He is an extraordinary horse. He has kept his form for so long and is an image. model of perseverance.”
This move certainly seems wise at the moment as Mind Control, who is the 5-2nd pick in the morning row, seems to be much better spotted in the $750,000 Cigars with 10 Weeks resting versus he could be in the tougher $1 million BC Dirt Mile game in just six weeks of rest.
Kumin said: “You have to credit Todd for wanting to give him more time and run in the Cigar Mile instead of the Breeders’ Cup. “Todd is very good at knowing when he needs a break, watching him and then finding good positions for him.”
Mind Control in April at Churchill Downs
While Saturday will mark the end of a chapter in Mind Control’s career, his later next chapter is expected to be in the spotlight early next week as details of his steed deal he is scheduled to be announced. While he may not have a regal lineage, there’s certainly plenty to enjoy in his two tier 1 wins, 2 to 6 win graded bets, and an intriguing combination of speed and the endurance he shows on the track.
“We didn’t get good feedback on him from the farms and that was surprising. He won two races that are considered stallion races,” Kumin said. “But if both of us as owners were interested in the stallion part of the game, maybe we could have made a deal right after the second 1st class win and that would put us in a position to retire him. Both Steve and I love racing so the idea was to wait and let him create his own pedigree until we reached the perfect deal.”
With all the emotions encapsulated on Saturday, this is supposed to be a particularly memorable day for Brunetti. Of course, there will be sadness, as well as hope that Mind Control can score another 1st place victory and also optimism about a promising racing career. In a poignant example of the racing life cycle, when one thoroughbred Brunetti’s career ends, another begins when, just minutes after the Cigars run, his half-sister 2 Age of Mind Control of candy ride , white hot goldwill make his career debuts for Gregg Sacco and Red Oak in Saturday’s race at Tampa . Bay.
Brunetti, who also has a 3-year-old daughter in 1st grade from Feel That Fire, said: “I couldn’t believe how it all turned out when my brother and sister were both running on the same day. Goddess of Fire . “We have high hopes for her.”
Needless to say, if White Hot Gold proves to be half a runner compared to his brother, Brunetti can look forward to a long and successful career.
