Comparative battles back to take the Ladies Stakes at Aqueduct

Daughter of Street Sense prevails after stretch-long duel to earn her first Stakes win

Comparative dueled with rival Saddle Up Jessie through the final furlong on her way to earning a hard-fought, neck victory in the $150,000 Ladies Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday, 6 January.

It was the second straight victory – and first Stakes win – for the four-year-old daughter of Street Sense, who improved her record to four wins and three third-place finishes in 10 starts.

A compact field of six went to the post for the nine-furlong Ladies, and it was She’s Mo Bubbly that broke on top and went to the lead. Comparative sat just off her in second, with Saddle Up Jessie racing in third. Comparative took the lead briefly on the far turn, but then lost her advantage to Saddle Up Jessie at the top of the lane. 

Set down for the drive by jockey Manny Franco, Comparative battled Saddle Up Jessie through the stretch, with neither filly giving in. At the wire it was Comparative that prevailed by a neck over Saddle Up Jessie; it was another six lengths back to Evidencias in third.

Racing as a homebred for Godolphin, Comparative is out of the Bernardini mare Collective, a full sister to G2 winner Penwith. In addition to Comparative, Collective has produced multiple Graded Stakes winner Shared Sense, a full brother to the Ladies Stakes winner. Second dam Composure was a multiple G1 winner, who also produced G1 Stakes runners Tranquil Manner and Centring (dam of G1-placed Central Avenue, also by Street Sense).

Street Sense was represented in 2023 by Graded Stakes winners Never Explain (G3 Dinner Party Stakes), Whelen Springs (G3 Philip H. Iselin) and First Mission (G3 Lexington Stakes); along with additional Stakes winners Otto the Conqueror, Road Bloc, Baytown Chatterbox, Ichiban and Notary.

Street Sense will stand the 2024 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for $60,000, stands and nurses.