Silver State left himself plenty to do early in the Parx Dirt Mile, dropping back to last early, before rallying around the far turn in what looked like a winning move by Ricardo Santana, Jr. Powering past Mind Control in the stretch, the Grade 1 Met Mile winner was as much as a half-length in front before Mind Control battled back to catch him just before the wire and win the one-mile listed stakes by a head.
Rock on Luke was fastest out of the gate, taking the lead over Warrior's Charge and West Will Power in the first quarter. Mind Control and John Velazquez stalked the top three in fourth, falling back to fifth at the half-mile mark. At the back of the pack, Santana waited for a chance to improve Silver State's position after his awkward break.
Going into the far turn, Rock on Luke and Warrior's Charge still held the front two positions, but Velazquez took Mind Control to their outside to find a clear running lane for their stretch bid. Behind them, Silver State powered past horses on the outside, making up ground and setting up his challenge in the straight.
Into the stretch, Rock on Luke, Warrior's Charge, and Mind Control were three across the track, with Mind Control taking over the lead midstretch. Silver State rushed up to his outside, passing the Pletcher trainee to take a half-length lead before Velazquez and Mind Control battled back late, getting a head in front just before they hit the wire.
The final time for the one-mile Parx Dirt Mile was 1:36.59. Find this race's chart here.
Mind Control paid $7.20, $3.20, and $2.40. Silver State paid $2.40 and $2.10. Warrior's Charge paid $3.20.
Assistant trainer Bryon Hughes for Todd Pletcher, winning trainer of Mind Control (No. 3, $7.20): “Silver State looked like he got the jump on him and it didn't look like we were going to get back up in time. But Johnny kept driving and the horse has a big heart and it's not the first time he has done something like that, so we were happy with it. He never gave up and Johnny never gave up on him. Johnny knows him well. Can't say enough about his heart, that's for sure. I was watching Silver State down the backside and he made his run around the turn and he came up alongside of us and I thought he had the jump and I wasn't sure if we were going to fight back but something unexpected like that is always impressive, always exciting.”
John R. Velazquez, winning jockey aboard Mind Control (No. 3): “He didn't give up, I didn't give up. When I asked for more, he gave me more. I don't remember riding him this long, two-turns. He's been in a mile, a one turn mile, and then I don't remember him going that far. I always thought he could but we never tried him for a long time and he showed us that he could.”
Bred in Kentucky by Red Oak Stable, Mind Control is by Stay Thirsty out of the Lightnin N Thunder mare Feel That Fire. He is owned by Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stable. With his win in the Parx Dirt Mile, Mind Control has two wins in five starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of 23-9-3-4 and career winners of $1,413,229.
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