Control System rolls in Interborough

Control System ($4.50) continued her mastery of Aqueduct's inner track as well as her older rival Oprah Winney by rolling to a 3 1/2-length victory in the $79,325 Interborough Handicap at Aqueduct. Karakorum Starlet got up for second by six lengths over Oprah Winney.

It was the second straight time Control System defeated Oprah Winney, having whipped her in last month's Garland of Roses Handicap. It was Control System's third stakes victory in as many tries over Aqueduct's inner track, as she also won the Grade 3 Cicada in March.

The Interborough victory should set Control System up nicely for a bid at the $300,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park on Feb. 16.

In the Interborough, Oprah Winney, under Ramon Dominguez, and Control System, with Julian Pimentel, hooked up from the break, dueling through an opening quarter of 22.36 seconds. Entering the far turn, Pimentel guided Control System to the outside of Oprah Winney, then went after her around the far turn before drawing away in the final furlong. Control System, a 4-year-old Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Lion Hearted, covered the six furlongs in 1:11.55 over a muddy track.

"I tried to go for the lead, but [Dominguez] put a little pressure on me," Pimentel said. "I took a hold, and when I asked her she took off again. I think she's a nice filly."

Control System is owned by Thomas McClay and Harry Nye and trained by Michael Trombetta.

Prior to the Interborough, New Year's Day belonged to apprentice riders and longshots. Jermaine Bridgmohan rode three winners on the card, while fellow apprentice jockeys Aldo Arboleda and Carl Cedeno each rode one winner. Three winners paid more than $40, producing a pick-six carryover of $46,068 into Thursday's card. Nobody picked five, either, meaning four of six returned $529.

Officials announced a crowd of 11,892, though there were many spinners who paid for more than one admission to get a 2008 NYRA calendar.