Mind Control to Stand at Rockridge Stud in New York

Multiple grade 1 winner Mind Control, most recently winner of the Cigar Mile Handicap Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) will enter stud at Rockridge Stud in New York under the management of Irish Hill Farm, Dutchess Views Stallions, Hidden Lake Farm, and Rockridge Stud, the colt's ownership group announced Dec. 21. The son of multiple grade 1 winner Stay Thirsty, out of the stakes-winning mare Feel That Fire, will stand his initial season for $8,500 with a live foal, stands and nurses guarantee. A homebred for Stephen P. Brunetti's Red Oak Stable, Mind Control won his first graded stakes in the 2018 Hopeful Stakes (G1) for Red Oak and Sol Kumin's Madaket Stables. He would go on to add wins at 3 in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1) and Bay Shore Stakes (G3) and at 4 capture the Tom Fool Handicap (G3) and Toboggan Stakes (G3). At 5, he won the John Nerud Stakes (G2) and was second in the Carter Handicap (G1). This year Mind Control would win three of the season's six starts, which included more graded wins in the Salvator Mile Stakes (G3) and a thriller in the Cigar Mile, which he won by a hard-fought head Dec. 3. The Cigar Mile was his final race. "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 1 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," he continued. Mind Control will serve stallion duty as the property of Rockridge Stud, Irish Hill Farm, Dutchess Views Stallions, Hidden Lake Farm, 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," said Rockridge 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." Brunetti, who has been breeding horses for 25 years, said Mind Control is the best racehorse he's 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 1 races from seven furlongs to one mile," he said. Mind Control has won eight graded stakes races since Kumin purchased a one-third share of him for Madaket Stable, which includes New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, after the horse's maiden special weight win at 2. "He's been an amazing horse to be a part of. He's such a cool horse. He'll be missed," said Kumin. Mind Control was retired with a 12-3-6 record from 29 starts and career earnings of $2,185,834. "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 (Curlin) Florida Derby (Presented by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, G1) winner on the inside and the American Pharoah (Stakes, G1) winner on the outside," trainer Todd Pletcher told NYRA. "It was three grade 1 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 (Velazquez) 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 1 races," said Sacco. Mind Control's dam, Feel That Fire, is a daughter of Lightnin N Thunder and also the dam of grade 1-placed winner Goddess of Fire. Feel That Fire is out of the French Deputy daughter Ubetwereven, making her a full sister to stakes winner Ima Jersey Girl and half sister to grade 3-placed, multiple stakes winner King for a Day (by Uncle Mo).