Bellamore Looks to Add to Success in Wide-Open Azeri

A field of eight hard-trying fillies and mares compete for graded glory March 9 at Oaklawn Park in the $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2), a local prep for the April 13 $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1).

Kaleem Shah's Bellamore  enters off a career-defining victory Jan. 27 in the Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (G3) at Sam Houston Race Park, ending an 0-for-9 skid at the graded level.

Video: Houston Ladies Classic S. (G3)

The win was the 6-year-old Empire Maker  mare's first start for Steve Asmussen. Asmussen will lift into the saddle his son Keith, who is coming off his first career graded stakes victory aboard Lemon Muffin  in the Honeybee Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Feb. 24.

Having raced at 10 different tracks, the Azeri will serve as a first visit to Oaklawn for Bellamore, and she'll have to face competition with success over the surface.

Godolphin's Comparative  has won five of her last six, including three straight capped by a half-length score Feb. 2 in the Bayakoa Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn. The 4-year-old Street Sense   filly seems to potentially be the next rising star in Brad Cox's barn and she will look to prove as much in her toughest spot yet.

Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's Hot and Sultry  was compromised by a bad start in the Bayakoa when returning from a nearly-three month layoff. The start kept her from setting the pace, which she had done Nov. 18 on the way to an eight-length victory in the Chilukki Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. This allowed Comparative to establish herself up front while Hot and Sultry was able to mount enough of a rally to finish fifth, beaten 4 1/4 lengths. However, 5-year-old daughter of Speightster  is a stakes winner over the surface and was third in the 2023 Apple Blossom (G1).

Video: Bayakoa S. (G3)

Other Challengers

• Resolute Racing's stakes winner Misty Veil  was third in the Bayakoa, improving her Oaklawn on-the-board record to 8-for-9.
• Michael Ryan's Saddle Up Jessie  ships in from the east coast for trainer Brittany Russell. A former claimer, the 5-year-old daughter of More Than Ready has won three of her last four, including two stakes victories. Her lone loss in that span came when second beaten a neck by Comparative in the Ladies Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack Jan. 6.
• Omar Aldabbagh and Jeff Ganje's Shotgun Hottie  returned from a half-year layoff in the Bayakoa after having won two stakes, including Monmouth Park's Molly Pitcher Stakes (G3) before the break. Stalking the pace early she flattened out in the lane and finished sixth, beaten 4 3/4 lengths. Trainer Cherie DeVaux will hope it built the necessary fitness needed for a more successful result this time.

The Azeri Stakes is race 9 with a post time of 4:55 p.m. CT.