Change pays off for Control System

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Plan B worked out just fine for the connections of Control System.

When an allowance race at Philadelphia Park failed to fill, trainer Michael Trombetta shipped Control System to Aqueduct for Saturday's $81,700 Garland of Roses Handicap and she responded with a 2 3/4-length victory over More Angels. It was 1 1/2 lengths back to 4-5 favorite Oprah Winney, who was bottled up for most of the trip.

The victory was the fourth from six starts for Control System, a 3-year-old daughter of Lion Hearted who last March won the Grade 3 Cicada Stakes over the inner track. She missed most of the summer with an inflamed throat and Saturday was her third start off the layoff. She was coming off a third-place finish in the Select Stakes run at Monmouth on Breeders' Cup Day.

"She was training good," said Trombetta, who trains Control System for owners Thomas McClay and Harry Nye. "She moved forward in that last one, she chased hard the whole way off that crazy pace. She ran well today."

Under Eibar Coa, Control System pressed Lakes Tune through modest fractions of 23.03 seconds and 46.72 before taking charge leaving the quarter pole. Control System covered the six furlongs in 1:10.50.

Trombetta said his ultimate goal with Control System is the Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park in February. He would like one start before then, which could come in the Interborough Handicap, run here New Year's Day.

* Who What Win ($4.40) squeezed through a narrow opening along the rail in midstretch under John Velazquez and drew clear to a 2 1/2-length victory over Run Red Run in the $80,000 Mellow Roll Stakes for New York-breds. It was 2 1/2 lengths back to Lord Langfuhr in third.

Who What Win, owned by Gatsas Stable and trained by John Terranova, covered the mile and 70 yards in 1:42.16. He will most likely be pointed to the $75,000 Alex M. Robb Handicap here Dec. 30.

* Velazquez and Channing Hill both refused to ride the turf course Saturday, saying they felt uncomfortable on it. Velazquez took off both of his scheduled mounts on the turf - one of which won - while Hill took off his mount in the fifth after riding the opener. El Prado Rob, Hill's mount in the fifth, was ultimately scratched.

Racing secretary P.J. Campo said it is "highly unlikely" that there will be any more turf racing this year.