OCEANPORT, NJ – It was an unusually cool and windy June day at the Jersey Shore for the GIII Salvator Mile S. The Salvator Mile doesn’t often attract a pair of Class I winners, but that’s exactly what that Monmouth Park fans were treated to Saturday with Mind control (Stay thirsty) meeting Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) for the first time. And it’s a great treat!
GI Pennsylvania Derby hero Hot Rod Charlie, who made his first appearance since finishing second at the G1 Dubai World Cup on March 26, was downgraded to a 1-5 bias. Meanwhile, his older, more experienced opponent was a gift with a 2-1 scoreline.
When no other speeds were signed, John Velazquez made the wise decision to send the agile Mind Control straight ahead from his rail-drawn door. Hot Rod Charlie is slightly behind Mike Smith from the third post and moves forward to track his older nemesis from second to second quarter: 23.60 first quarter. Mind Control is still going pretty well as Hot Rod Charlie turns up the heat as the first half ramps up: 46.66.
Velazquez was still sitting coldly as Hot Rod Charlie and Smith drew umbrellas with Mind Control at 1/4 pole and the stage was set. The top two betting picks were clear compared to the rest of the field as they pitted each other every step of the way in lane. Hot Rod Charlie even leads Mind Control halfway home – to the delight of the enthusiastic group of owners cheering loudly on the wire – but his intrepid elder brother enjoys a dogfight. Team Red Oak was equally raving with their cheers as Mind Control slams into the fence, determined to get past Hot Rod Charlie in the final steps to a head-to-head victory. It’s already 6 1/4 lengths back to GI Maker’s Mark Mile winner Shirl’s Sight (Sightstown) in third place.
“Todd [Pletcher] say exactly what just happened, put him in the lead and try to steal it,” said Anthony Sciametta, Pletcher’s Monmouth-based assistant. “He is a good horse. He tries all the time. I really thought he was beaten there for a minute, but he’s back. He likes Johnny. ”
“My thinking is, there’s not a lot of pace in the race, so I want to get out there running and get in a good position,” Velazquez said. “Todd texted Anthony and said, ‘Tell Johnny to do what he needs to do.’ I said, ‘Thanks, that’s what I need to know.’ He has the same thoughts as me. When he’s on top, he’s a fighter. He’s really tough to get over. Sometimes they go in front of him and he comes back to it. [Hot Rod Charlie] half of the neck was in front of him and Mind Control turned back to him. “
Red Oak’s Rick Sacco said: “He’s a proven commodity. “He always brings his game and we are delighted to be back at home. We grew up around here and it was a historic race. We are happy to be here and to win it. We are proud of the horse.”
As for what’s next, Sacco said, “There’s nothing on the horizon right now. We’ll take him back to Belmont and then take him to Saratoga and pick something up.”
As for the beaten favorite, coach Doug O’Neill said, “We’re obviously disappointed but we’re very proud of his return to racing. We want to thank Monmouth. They really rolled out the red carpet for us. We are grateful for today and look forward to the future.”
Smith said: “He’s not bad at running. “Credit to the winner. He is very chivalrous. My horse fought with him. I think Mind Control will get ahead of us. He’s stepping out of the sprint. We made him stand still in the gate and he did it – he stood still. I missed my vacation. I think that’s what happened to him in Dubai. That’s why he went back there so far. Ability-wise, I know what he’s capable of, so that’s why I’m not satisfied. I know what he can do and this is not it. “
Winner of GI Hopeful S. returning in 2018 and GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. in 2019 to previous coach Greg Sacco, Mind Control was transferred to Pletcher in the spring of 2021. won GII John A. Nerud S. last July and finished next fourth in Saratoga’s GI Forego S.. Ending its season with a win in the Parx Dirt Mile S. in September, the bay started this semester with a third place in the April 9 GI Carter H. Aqueduct and was a final not. fifth element in GI Churchill Downs S May 7.
Genealogical notes:
Mind Control is the only Class I winner in North America for his Stay Thirsty male. Smash his stakes Feel That Fire is half for MSW & GSP King In One Day (Uncle Mo) and all to SW Ima Jersey Girl. The 15-year-old mare is also the dam of the Fire Goddess MGSP (Mineshaft), who finished second in both the GII Fair Grounds Oaks and GII Gulfstream Park Oaks this season. Feel That Fire is also responsible for creating the juvenile Hot White Gold (Candy Ride {Arg}) and 2022 before Uncle Mo.
Saturday, Monmouth
SALVATOR MILE S.-GIII$147,500, Monmouth, 6-18, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:35.79, ft.
first-MIND CONTROL, 118, h, 6, by Stay Thirsty
Smash One: Feel That Fire (SW, $147,280), by Lightning N Thunder
Second Dam: Ubetwereven, by French Deputy Minister
3rd Dam: Lake Raysor, by Personal Account
O-Red Oak Stables (Brunetti) & Madaket Stables, LLC; B-Red
Oak stabilizer (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-John R. Velazquez.
$90,000. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 10/26-3-5, $1,561,279.
* 1/2 to Goddess of Fire (Mineshaft), MGSP, $221,875. Werk
Nick Rating: A. Click to view eNicks report and pedigree of 5 children.
2-Hot Rod Charlie124, c, 4, Oxbow – Indian Miss, by Indian
– Charlie. ($17,000 Ylg ’19 FTKFEB; $110,000 Ylg’ 19 FTKOCT).
Boat Racing O, LLC, Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck),
Racing Roadrunner & William Strauss; B-Edward A. Cox (KY);
T-Doug F. O’Neill. $30,000.
3–Shirl’s Sight124, h, 5, Sightstown–Perfect Shirl, by
Perfect Soul (Ire). O/B-Charles Fipke (KY); T-Roger L. Attfield.
$15,000. ‘Rising star TDN‘
Margins: HD, 6 1/4, 11HF. Odds: 2.30, 0.30, 8.50.
Also Ran: Phat Man, Mohaafeth. Scratches: Confessor, Helium.
Click to view Equibase.com chartthe PP of TJCIS.com or Free Equineline.com catalog style genealogy. VIDEO sponsored by TVG.
