Control Group dominates in Aqueduct's 2017 Discovery Stakes

Control Group took over into the first turn Saturday and led them the rest of the way in the Grade 3, $200,000 Discovery Handicap at Aqueduct -- not a bad effort for a horse whose trainer had to be asked to enter.

"They said they needed horses," said Rudy Rodriguez. "They only had four."

And so Rodriguez sent the 3-year-old son of Posse out under jockey Joel Rosario. The duo left little doubt while topping a compact field in New York.

After an opening half mile in 48.52, Control Group built a significant lead into the turn and left the best of the closers, Senior Investment, three lengths back at the wire. Bonus Points, the recent winner of the Maryland Million Classic Stakes, got up for third, also with a late-closing effort.

Control Group returned $7.40 as a 5-2 shot, finishing 1 1/8 miles in 1:52.83.

"I was just trying to stay where I was early and improve my position as it went," Rosario said. "He handled everything fine. It looked like it was very easy for him."

Control Group rebounded from a runner-up effort in state-bred company, in which he finished second Oct. 21 at Belmont Park. This was his first try in graded stakes company while making his 13th career start.

The colt’s record now stands at 5-3-3.

By Jonathan Lintner