Oaklawn: Comparative is among stakes winners racing in Azeri

Comparative will try for her second consecutive Oaklawn graded win next weekend as one of the seven stakes victors in the field of eight older fillies and mares entered for the Grade 2, $400,000 Azeri Stakes.

The 1 1/16-mile dirt test is scheduled for Saturday at 5:55 p.m. EST as the ninth of 10 races. The first post will be at 1:30 p.m. EST.

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Bred and owned by Godolphin and trained by Brad Cox, Comparative won Feb. 2 in the Bayakoa (G3), which covered the same course and distance as the Azeri. The 4-year-old Street Sense filly began her year with a narrow victory in the Ladies Stakes on Jan. 6 at Aqueduct. Manny Franco will ride Comparative from post 4.

Three other Bayakoa finishers are also in the Azeri. Misty Veil, who was third last month coming off a win the listed Pippin at Oaklawn, will be ridden by Ramón Vázquez out of post 3. Hot and Sultry, fourth in her first start since winning the Chilukki (G3) in November at Churchill Downs, got Ricardo Santana Jr. and post 6. Shotgun Hottie, who finished sixth in the Bayakoa following a six-month break after winning the Molly Pitcher (G3) last summer at Monmouth Park, will have Cristian Torres taking her out of post 8.

Bellamore, trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by son Keith Asmussen, won last out Jan. 27 in the Houston Ladies Classic (G3). The 6-year-old mare breaks from post 2.

Saddle Up Jessie, who won minor stakes at Laurel Park and Aqueduct in two of her last three starts this winter, will be ridden by Jevian Toledo from post 5.

Soul of an Angel, who is 1-for-9 since she scored a stakes win last summer at Horseshoe Indianapolis, will have Emmanuel Esquivel in the irons going from the rail post.

Lightly raced allowance winner Tiny Temper, a 4-year-old Arrogate filly, will carry James Graham out of post 7.

The Azeri is Oaklawn’s final major prep for the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) on April 13.