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Mind Control Stays Put at Rockridge Stud

Red Oak Stable (Stephen P. Brunetti) and Madaket Stable's (Sol Kumin) Mind Control (Stay Thirsty–Feel That Fire, by Lightnin N Thunder) winner of the GI $750,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Dec. 3 in the final start of his career, will stand at Rockridge Stud in New York under the management of Irish Hill Farm, Dutchess Views Stallions, Hidden Lake Farm and Rockridge Stud. The five-year-old is out of a stakes-winning mare and is priced at $8,500 LFSN.

Mind Control won the GI Hopeful S. as a 2-year-old and the GI H. Allen Jerkens S. as a 3-year-old at Saratoga. “We are excited and looking forward to standing Mind Control at Rockridge Stud,” said Red Oak Stable racing manager Rick Sacco. “There was considerable interest from stud farms in the U.S., Japan and the Middle East, but given that his three Grade I victories were on the NYRA circuit, we believe Rockridge Stud in the state of New York is the perfect place for Mind Control to begin his stallion career.”

“Ultimately, Stephen Brunetti wanted the horse to stand in the U.S. Sol Kumin agreed, a deal was struck with Rockridge Stud, Irish Hill Farm, and Dutchess Views Stallions, and a partnership was formed,” said Sacco.

Mind Control will serve stallion duty as the property of Rockridge Stud, Irish Hill Farm, Dutchess Views Stallions, and Waldorf Farm as well as Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stable.

“This is a significant development for Rockridge Stud, Irish Hill Farm, Dutchess Views Stallions, and for the breeding industry in New York,” added owner/operator Lere Visagie. “Getting this group of partners together to support Mind Control gives us a phenomenal opportunity to make him the most successful stallion to ever stand in the state.”

“I'm extremely proud of everything Mind Control accomplished on the race track,” said Brunetti. “I've been breeding horses for 25 years and he's the best one I've ever bred. From a breeding perspective, Mind Control has excellent conformation and size. He displayed fierce courage, he hails from a strong and active female family, and he won Grade I races from seven furlongs to one mile.”

Mind Control recorded victories in five of his final nine career starts beginning with his win at Belmont Park's $250,000 John A. Nerud Stakes (G2) going seven furlongs July 4, 2021. After his win in the Cigar Mile, Todd Pletcher told NYRA, “It was not only great for him to go out on a win, but for him to do it in the style that defines his character in fighting off challenges from the Florida Derby winner on the inside and the American Pharoah winner on the outside.” “It was three Grade I winners battling it out across the track. Mind Control showed that signature move of his where he puts his head in front and won't be denied.”

Sacco described Mind Control's final career start as almost like a movie ending. “It was a fitting end to his impressive racing career and it was awesome that Johnny V came in from California to ride Mind Control in his final race. We're very proud of the horse, our breeding program, and the Red Oak Farm operation led by Barry Dolan. I just want to congratulate Todd and his entire team and to remember the excellent job my brother Gregg did with Mind Control earlier in his career winning two Grade I races,” concluded Sacco.

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Mind Control Goes Out In Style In Cigar Mile

Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stable's Mind Control (Stay Thirsty), who has competed in 27 stakes since his debut in 2018, closed out his career in style Saturday, scoring his 11th black-type victory and third at the highest level in Aqueduct's GI Cigar Mile.

With GI Pennsylvania Derby runner-up Zandon (Upstart) bet down to 3-5, Mind Control was dispatched as the 3-1 second choice, a gift to his faithful fans in his career finale. Away quickest of all, the bay was outrun by 58-1 shot Outlier (Not This Time) and was content to stalk that rival from second through a :23.26 first quarter. The 6-year-old veteran was patiently handled by John Velazquez through a :46.55 half-mile with Get Her Number (Dialed In) tracking intently to his outside in third and White Abarrio (Race Day) not far behind. Mind Control sidled up beside Outlier at the three-quarter pole with Get Her Number joining him on the outside and White Abarrio sneaking up the fence to join the fray, making it four across the track turning for home.

Zandon ranged up five wide just off their heels, looking like he might join the group as Outlier threw in the towel and retreated. Mind Control, White Abarrio and Get Her Number locked horns, battling down the lane as Zandon unsuccessfully tried to play catch up. Mind Control forged clear in the final sixteenth to complete his career on high note with a head success over Get Her Number. It was a half-length back to White Abarrio in third and another two back to Zandon in fourth.

“If you like horse racing, you've got to love this horse,” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “He's cool. He's done it consistently year after year at multiple distances. He's a great horse to be able to train. He's remarkably consistent and shows up every morning.”

He continued, “When he broke well, I was happy and there was a moment in the first sixteenth of a mile where I wasn't so sure if he was liking the surface, which a couple of times in the past he hadn't cared for. But then once he got into a good rhythm down the backside, I was confident. He's the type of horse that if you get into a battle with him, he's going to fight.”

Pletcher added, “Stay Thirsty won [the 2012 Cigar Mile] in probably one of the best head bobs we've ever had in racing, so it's kind of cool that his offspring was able to win it.”

“The last two times he ran over a track like that, he was out of the pack,” Velazquez said. “The first sixteenth of a mile, he broke good and I was like, 'Oh, please. Don't do this to me.' He seemed like he was going to go, but he came out of the bridle. So, I passed the chute and kind of put him into the bridle and he got comfortable. I felt much better the way he was going towards the turn and when the other horse [Get Her Number] came to him, he got competitive. So then I felt like he was going to fight. When that horse put his head in front of me and didn't pass me, I was like, 'This is going to be a fight here.' And sure enough, I went left handed on him, he responded and put his head in front and it was a really good fight to the wire.”

On what Mind Control means to him, the Hall of Fame pilot said, “I've been around this horse for five years and he's been a really decent horse and shows up to the big dances with really tough horses–and he does it all the time. I'm a little sad to see him go because he's one of the horses that kind of keeps me in the game and kind of looking forward to these kinds of races. He's gone, so I'll have to start looking for something else to keep me in the game.”

Scoring his first Grade I win in the 2018 Hopeful S. at Saratoga, Mind Control took the Jerome S. and GIII Bay Shore S. in 2019, and captured his second Grade I that year with a gutsy score in Saratoga's GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. Opening 2020 with wins in the GIII Toboggan S. and GIII Tom Fool H., both at the Big A for former trainer Greg Sacco, the homebred did not visit the winner's circle again until July of 2021, taking the GII John A. Nerud S. in his first start for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher. He won the Parx Dirt Mile two starts later and was third in this year's GI Carter H. Off the board in the GI Churchill Downs S. in May, Mind Control scored a gritty victory over Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) in Monmouth's GIII Salvator Mile June 18. Completing the trifecta in the GII Charles Town Classic Aug. 26, he crossed the line a neck second in the Sept. 24 Parx Dirt Mile, but was promoted to first via DQ.

Pedigree Notes:

Mind Control is one of five graded winners by Stay Thirsty, who now stands in California, and is his only North American Grade I winner. He is also the sire of a Group 1 winner in South America. The winner is out of fellow Red Oak homebred Feel That Fire (Lightnin N Thunder), a stakes-winning half-sister to MSW & GSP King For A Day (Uncle Mo) and a full to MSW Ima Jersey Girl. Her 3-year-old filly Goddess of Fire (Mineshaft), retained by Red Oak and trained by Pletcher, ran second in both the GII Rachel Alexandra S. and GII Gulfstream Park Oaks this term. Feel That Fire's juvenile filly White Hot Gold (Candy Ride {Arg}) debuted at Tampa Saturday just eight minutes before her half-brother's swansong, finishing sixth. The 15-year-old mare failed to get in foal to Uncle Mo for 2021, but had a filly that sire in February of this year. She visited both Curlin and Uncle Mo this spring.

Saturday, Aqueduct
CIGAR MILE H. PRESENTED BY NYRA BETS-GI, $750,000, Aqueduct, 12-3, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:35.53, sy.
1–MIND CONTROL, 122, h, 6, by Stay Thirsty
                1st Dam: Feel That Fire (SW, $147,280), by Lightnin N Thunder
                2nd Dam: Ubetwereven, by French Deputy
                3rd Dam: Raysor Lake, by Private Account
O-Red Oak Stable (Brunetti) & Madaket Stables, LLC; B-Red
Oak Stable (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-John R. Velazquez.
$412,500. Lifetime Record: 29-12-3-6, $2,185,834. *1/2 to
Goddess of Fire (Mineshaft), GISP, $335,875. Werk Nick
Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Get Her Number, 120, c, 4, Dialed In–Fancier, by Bernstein.
($45,000 2yo '20 OBSAPR). O-Gary Barber; B-Philip & Brenda
Robertson (KY); T-Peter Miller. $150,000.
3–White Abarrio, 118, c, 3, Race Day–Catching Diamonds, by
Into Mischief. ($7,500 Ylg '20 OBSWIN; $40,000 2yo '21
OBSMAR). O-C Two Racing Stable & Antonio Pagnano;
B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. $90,000.
Margins: HD, HF, 2. Odds: 3.15, 8.50, 3.65.
Also Ran: Zandon, Outlier, Double Crown. Scratched: O Besos.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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The 2022 Thoroughbred Makeover Event: Meet Minnesota’s Madisson Walker

Each year since 2010, as Thoroughbreds across the country face the end of their racing careers, the team at the Maryland-based Retired Racehorse Project step up with one purpose: “furthering founder Steuart Pittman's vision to increase demand for Thoroughbreds after racing and restoring their prominence in the equestrian world.” With this goal in mind, the RRP created the inaugural 'Thoroughbred Trainer Challenge' in 2012–an event which gave four trainers just 100 days and an opportunity to showcase what a recently retired racehorse could do in a potential second career.

That event, which packed the 2012 Pennsylvania Horse World Expo, was the precursor to what became the first RRP Thoroughbred Makeover event in 2013. Held at renowned Pimlico Race Course in October 2013, the initial Makeover featured 26 trainers from 15 states who were given three months to re-train an off-the-track Thoroughbred in the discipline of their choice–from eventing, jumpers, and dressage, to polo, western riding, and police work.

What started as a small opportunity with just 26 trainers quickly blossomed into a national event and, in 2015, the annual Makeover event made the move to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Now with a $100,000 purse, split between the placings in the various divisions, on the line, the competition provided an outlet for trainers and racing organizations around the world to showcase the versatility of their retired racehorses.

Held this upcoming October 12-15, this year's rendition will host 377 entries–one of whom is Minnesota's 17-year-old Madisson Walker.

Together with her mount, Minnesota-bred Claire Sailing (Stay Thirsty), Madisson will tackle the Show Hunter division this Fall.

“It was in 2019 that I acquired my first off-the-track Thoroughbred,” Walker said, when asked how she got her start with the breed. “Sword of David (Line of David) and I have gone on to compete all over the U.S. and that was when I discovered that many people in the hunter/jumper show circuit do not care for Thoroughbreds.”

Madisson Walker & Sword of David | Madisson Walker

“Hearing numerous amounts of negativity around them and being turned down from trainers for riding Thoroughbreds really encouraged me to want to make a difference.”

Together with her mother, Kristina Walker, Madisson created Minnesota-based Koch Thoroughbred Transformations.

“We have done so much in our first few months of being open, and we really value the horses we get in, as well as the owners who trust us with them,” Walker said. “To me, these are not just horses, they are my passion. I love [the ones] that give me a challenge and then being able to show how far I can get them with time, trust, and patience.”

Her 2022 Makeover entry is Claire Sailing, a 4-year-old filly bred by Jack Guggisberg who made her last of three starts at Canterbury Park June 12.

“She just did not enjoy her job as a racehorse,” Walker noted. “But that works perfectly for me as she is very beautiful and is making the transition into being a hunter/jumper easily.”

To be eligible for the Makeover, horses must have had an official workout or start since July 1, 2020, but fewer than 15 retraining rides prior to Dec. 31, 2021.

“I feel for her having had her last race on June 12, and only about 10 rides on her to date, that she is right on target,” Walker said. “She is very young and all of the new experiences at a horse show are so different from life at the track.”

Walker said she feels confident that the future for Claire Sailing is bright.

“She competed in her first over-fences class Aug. 6 and did very well. I am excited to see how she continues to progress as she is such a smart and willing mare,” she said.

Following the Makeover in October, in which many of the entries are then placed on the market for sale, Walker hopes to use her experience to pay it forward, putting any money made from Claire Sailing's future sale back into Thoroughbred rescue.

“I'll ensure she finds a suitable show home who will continue to grow her skills, and the money from her adoption can go back into our non-profit to continue to transition other OTTB's.”

At just 17 years old, Walker is already thinking of the future–both in life and in horses.

“I want people to see and respect me as a trainer, not just as a junior,” she said, referencing her being one of this year's youngest competitors.

When asked if she felt any additional pressure about that particular accolade, she added, “I find that I put more pressure on myself to do well to represent my state, as well as the aftercare program my mom and I run.”

And while adult life is on her doorstep, Walker plans to keep horses in her future.

“I have been looking into a lot of different colleges lately, [including] Hollins University due to their riding program. I know I want to work with off-the-track Thoroughbreds into my adult life, and want to make a living out of helping these horses transition into new careers.”

For more information on this year's Thoroughbred Makeover event, visit: https://www.therrp.org/.

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Mind Control Noses Out Hot Rod Charlie in Salvator Mile Thriller

OCEANPORT, NJ–It was an unseasonably cool and windy June day at the Jersey Shore for Monmouth Park's GIII Salvator Mile S. and the match up on display for Saturday's marquee race was just as unusual as the weather. It is not often the Salvator Mile attracts a pair of Grade I winners, but that is exactly what the Monmouth Park fans were treated to Saturday with Mind Control (Stay Thirsty) meeting Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) for the first time. And what a treat it was!

GI Pennsylvania Derby hero Hot Rod Charlie, who was making his first start since the finishing second in the G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 26, was hammered down to 1-5 favoritism. Meanwhile, his older, more experienced rival was a gift at 2-1.

With no other speed signed on, Hall of Famer John Velazquez made the astute decision to send the versatile Mind Control straight to the front from his rail draw. Hot Rod Charlie was away a breath slow beneath Mike Smith from post three and moved up to track his older foe from second through a :23.60 first quarter. Mind Control was still well within himself when Hot Rod Charlie turned up the heat as the half went up in :46.66.

Velazquez was still sitting chilly as Hot Rod Charlie and Smith drew even with Mind Control at the quarter-pole and the stage was set. The top two betting choices were well clear of the rest of the field as they battled stride-for-stride down the lane. Hot Rod Charlie even headed Mind Control halfway home–much to the delight of his enthusiastic group of owners cheering loudly at the wire–but his gutsy elder relishes a dog fight. The Red Oak team was equally passionate with their cheers as Mind Control dug in on the fence, determinedly forging past Hot Rod Charlie in the final strides to win by a head. It was 6 1/4 lengths back to GI Maker's Mark Mile winner Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) in third.

“Todd [Pletcher] said exactly what just happened, put him on the lead and try to steal it,”said Anthony Sciametta, Pletcher's Monmouth-based assistant. “He is a nice horse. He tries all the time. I actually thought he was beat there for a minute, but he came back. He likes Johnny.”

“My thought was, there wasn't much speed in the race, so I wanted to come out of there running and get a good position,” Velazquez said. “Todd texted Anthony and said, 'Tell Johnny to do what he needs to do.' I said, 'Thank you, that's what I needed to know.' He had the same thought as me. When he is on, he is a fighter. He is really tough to go by. Sometimes they go in front of him and he comes back at it. [Hot Rod Charlie] had almost half a neck in front of him and Mind Control came back at him.”

“He is a proven commodity,” said Red Oak's Rick Sacco. “He always brings his game and we are pleased to be back on our home turf. We grew up around here and it is such a historic race. We are pleased to be here and win it. We are proud of the horse.”

As for what's next, Sacco said, “There is nothing on the horizon right now. We will ship him back to Belmont and then get him to Saratoga and pick something out.”

As for the beaten favorite, trainer Doug O'Neill said, “We are obviously disappointed but we're just so proud of him getting back to the races. We want to thank Monmouth. They really rolled out the red carpet for us. We're grateful for the day and looking forward to the future.”

“He didn't run badly,” said Smith. “Credit to the winner. He was gallant. My horse fought with him. I thought Mind Control would get the lead over us. He is coming out of a sprint. We got him to stand still in the gate and he did that–he stood still. I kind of missed the break. I think that's what happened to him in Dubai too. That's why he was so far back there. Ability-wise I know what he is capable of, so that is the reason I am not pleased. I know what he can do and this was not it.”

Winner of the GI Hopeful S. back in 2018 and the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. in 2019 for previous trainer Greg Sacco, Mind Control was transferred to Pletcher in the spring of 2021. He won the GII John A. Nerud S. last July and was fourth next out in Saratoga's GI Forego S. Concluding his season with a win in the Parx Dirt Mile S. in September, the bay kicked off this term with a third in Aqueduct's GI Carter H. Apr. 9 and was a non-factor fifth last time in the May 7 GI Churchill Downs S.

Pedigree Notes:
Mind Control is the only North American Grade I winner for his expatriated sire Stay Thirsty. His stakes-winning dam Feel That Fire is a half to MSW & GSP King For a Day (Uncle Mo) and a full to SW Ima Jersey Girl. The 15-year-old mare is also the dam of MGSP Goddess of Fire (Mineshaft), who was second in both the GII Fair Grounds Oaks and GII Gulfstream Park Oaks this season. Feel That Fire is also responsible for the juvenile filly White Hot Gold (Candy Ride {Arg}) and a 2022 filly by Uncle Mo.

Saturday, Monmouth
SALVATOR MILE S.-GIII, $147,500, Monmouth, 6-18, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:35.79, ft.
1–MIND CONTROL, 118, h, 6, by Stay Thirsty
                1st Dam: Feel That Fire (SW, $147,280), by Lightnin N Thunder
                2nd Dam: Ubetwereven, by French Deputy
                3rd Dam: Raysor Lake, by Private Account
O-Red Oak Stable (Brunetti) & Madaket Stables, LLC; B-Red
Oak Stable (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-John R. Velazquez.
$90,000. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 26-10-3-5, $1,561,279.
*1/2 to Goddess of Fire (Mineshaft), MGSP, $221,875. Werk
Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Hot Rod Charlie, 124, c, 4, Oxbow–Indian Miss, by Indian
Charlie. ($17,000 Ylg '19 FTKFEB; $110,000 Ylg '19 FTKOCT).
O-Boat Racing, LLC, Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck),
Roadrunner Racing & William Strauss; B-Edward A. Cox (KY);
T-Doug F. O'Neill. $30,000.
3–Shirl's Speight, 124, h, 5, Speightstown–Perfect Shirl, by
Perfect Soul (Ire). O/B-Charles Fipke (KY); T-Roger L. Attfield.
$15,000. 'TDN Rising Star'
Margins: HD, 6 1/4, 11HF. Odds: 2.30, 0.30, 8.50.
Also Ran: Phat Man, Mohaafeth. Scratched: Confessor, Helium.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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