Comparative, after Ladies Stakes win, likely to Heavenly Prize

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Ladies Stakes winner Comparative, like her Brad Cox-trained stablemate Drum Roll Please, will remain in New York and point to the $150,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational on Feb. 10, Cox said.

The Heavenly Prize represents a turnback to a one-turn mile from 1 1/8 miles, but Comparative did win a second-level allowance going a mile on Nov. 25, her first start off a six-month layoff. Since Comparative has had only two races since the spring, Cox wants to keep her going until he finds a suitable graded stakes opportunity down the road.

“It keeps her ticking over," Cox said. “I think the goal is to try and make her a graded stakes-placed and graded stakes winner. The timing of that race would be something we’ll consider.”

Comparative, a Godolphin homebred daughter of Street Sense, earned a career-best 89 Beyer Speed Figure for her performance in the Ladies Stakes.

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Meanwhile, Saddle Up Jessie, beaten just a neck by Comparative in the Ladies, arrived Sunday at Keeneland, where on Tuesday she will go through the auction ring at the January horses of all ages sale.

Owner Mike Ryan said “if she brings a decent price, we’ll move forward, if she doesn’t she’ll go back to Fair Hill and to Brittany [Russell].”

Ryan was pleased with Saddle Up Jessie’s performance, especially since she was running back just two weeks after she won the Carousel Stakes at Laurel Park.

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