Control System set for first stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Six of the seven 3-year-old fillies entered in Saturday's Grade 3 Cicada Stakes at Aqueduct are stakes winners. Potentially the most talented member of the field is the one who has yet to start in a stakes.

Control System, who has won her first two starts by a combined 20 3/4 lengths, makes her stakes debut in the $100,000 Cicada, a six-furlong race that was postponed from last Saturday when the card was canceled because of inclement weather. Seven of the eight fillies entered last week were entered back - Upscale Storm was not - and post positions were redrawn.

Control System, who had post 4 last week, will now break from the rail under Julien Pimentel. Though Control System won both of her races on the front end, trainer Michael Trombetta doesn't feel she is a need-the-lead type.

"This filly will run any way she's got to run," Trombetta said. "She was just faster than the competition could handle up there. When he asked her she drew out. If somebody is burning down the backside she doesn't have to be in front."

From what Trombetta has seen from her so far, he believes Control System could be "pretty special."

With a smarter ride than she received last time, Hungarian Boatbaby should be a factor in the Cicada. In last month's Dearly Precious Stakes, when ridden by Eibar Coa, Hungarian Boatbaby got into a pace duel with Golden Dreamer and finished last as Special Dream rolled to an eight-length score. Last fall, Hungarian Boatbaby won two races from off the pace with Ramon Dominguez in the irons. Dominguez rides Hungarian Boatbaby from post 6 on Saturday.

"I was completely surprised by Coa's ride and extremely disappointed with him," trainer Tony Dutrow said. "I like Coa, and he was the leading rider in New York last year, but I don't know what he was thinking."

Five Star Daydream, who won 3oofo5 starts as a 2-year-old, will make her 3-year-old debut in the Cicada. Though a speed-oriented filly last year, Five Star Daydream has indicated to her trainer, Shug McGaughey, that she could come from off the pace this year.

"Coming out of the sale last year all she knew was go, go, go,'' McGaughey said. "In her last two or three breezes she's been finishing up really well and galloping out fine."

Golden Dreamer, Special Dream, and Becky's Flute have all won stakes over the inner track this winter. Glacken's Mark, who won 4 of 7 starts last year for Todd Pletcher, completes the field.