Mind Control makes his final career start in Cigar Mile on Saturday

By NY Hot List staff | December 1, 2022

The 6-year-old Mind Control will make the final start of his career in the Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Saturday. After 28 career starts, Mind Control has won over $1.7 million dollars including 11 victories with seven of them in graded stakes.

Rick Sacco, racing manager for Red Oak Stable, confirmed that the Cigar Mile will be Mind Control’s final career start before heading off to a stallion career. 

“I think the horse has proven everything that a horse can do. At two, three, four, five and six, he’s won a graded stake every year he’s run. He’s won from six furlongs to a mile,” Sacco said. “It would be a great sendoff for the horse. We’re looking forward to it. He’s been such a fun horse to be around. He loves NYRA, he obviously loves Aqueduct. He loves Saratoga, too, and some other tracks. All the feedback from Todd the past few weeks has been awesome. He loves the way he’s been doing. He’s happy and energetic and Todd’s team is very pleased.”

His main competition will come from the 3-year-old Zandon who will be making his first start against older horses. Zandon hit the board in all eight of his races while taking on the best horses in his division in the Blue Grass, Kentucky Derby, Travers, and Pennsylvania Derby.

The $750,000 Cigar Mile (G1) – Aqueduct, Saturday, Race 9.

(7) Mind Control won four races at Aqueduct and four races at the mile distance. The 6-year-old is known for winning heated battles down the stretch. His sire Stay Thirsty won the Cigar Mile in 2012 and his trainer Todd Pletcher won this race fives times. (2) Zandon will face older horses for the first time after battling with the best 3-year-olds in the country. He won the Blue Grass (G1) and then was third in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Last year he was second in the Remsen. He will cut back in distance and go one-turn for the first time since his debut maiden victory. (1) Double Crown stepped up to win the Kelso (G2) which was the final prep race for the Cigar Mile. (3) White Abarrio won the Florida Derby (G1) and three other races at Gulfstream Park. Since then he has not been able to win again with four starts outside of Florida, but he has tactical speed which should serve him well in this one-turn format.

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