In a gutsy statement win, Godolphin homebred Comparative battled on the lead to secure her first graded stakes score in the 1 1/16-mile $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park Feb. 2.
After a six-month layoff that followed an eighth-place finish in the George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) at Pimlico Race Course, the 4-year-old daughter of Street Sense is on a three-race win streak for trainer Brad Cox.
Inheriting the lead after odds-on favorite and expected pacesetter Hot and Sultry broke awkwardly and got away last, Comparative experienced mild pressure from Shotgun Hottie entering the clubhouse turn. Cox loved her position.
“Speed seemed really, really good,” Cox said of the races he’d seen while he was at Oaklawn this week. “Horses on the front end were not backing up. They were going fast and continuing on.”
After fractions of :24.07 and :48.12, Cristian Torres called on Shotgun Hottie to take the lead. Never panicking, Manny Franco allowed Comparative to take a breather in second before asking her to dig in as they turned for home.
Reestablishing the lead at the top of the stretch, Comparative fought off the challenges of Ice Orchid and Misty Veil , who finished second and third, respectively, to win by a half-length in 1:44.81.
A full sister to multiple graded stakes winner Shared Sense , Cox said Godolphin brought her back with the goal of making her a graded stakes winner.
“This was huge for her and her pedigree,” Cox said.
Comparative paid $14.40 to win. She now holds a record of 5-0-3 from 11 lifetime starts with earnings of $410,995. Cox said both the March 9 Azeri Stakes (G2) and April 13 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) are very much in play.
Leave feedback about this