It was the fourth victory on the year for the 3-year-old Lion Hearted filly, who is owned by Thomas McClay and Harry Nye. She ran the six furlongs in 1:10.50 on a fast main track.
More Angels rallied for second and was 1 ½-lengths in front of Oprah Winney, who ran a distant third as the overwhelming favorite. Karakorum Starlet was fourth in the six-horse field, which included two scratches.
Control System came in after placing third in a pair of stakes, the last one the Oct. 27 Ms. Woodford on the slop at Monmouth Park. Prior to that she began her career with three consecutive victories, including the March 24 Cicada (gr. III) at Aqueduct.
Bred in Pennsylvania by Horse Shoe Valley Equine, but based out of Laurel Park, Control System stayed just in back of pacesetter Lakes Tune, who set opening fractions of :23.03 and :46.72. By the time they rounded the turn Control System was in high gear, taking over by two lengths at the top of the stretch under Eibar Coa.
There was no threat from rivals in the final furlong, as Control System drew clear under a drive from Coa.
Out of Grindstone mare Risk Aversion, Control System is trained by Michael Trombetta. The bay filly paid $6.70 to win as the second betting choice. The exacta (6-4) More Angels was worth $42.60, while the trifecta (6-4-2) returned $65.
Oprah Winney, who has won four times in 2007, was coming off an eighth-place effort in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Monmouth Park. In the Garland of Roses, she lacked early speed and made only a mild rally in the stretch.
(Chart, Equibase)