Nitrogen floats to victory in G1 Alabama pres. by Keeneland Sales

Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse has long desired to win Saratoga Race Course’s marquee route for sophomore fillies, and D.J. Stable’s Kentucky homebred Nitrogen was the one to deliver him the victory in Saturday’s 10-furlong Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama presented by Keeneland Sales.

"I've been coming here since I was 10 years old and the Alabama has always been huge,” Casse said. “I can't even explain it. This is all I've ever wanted to do since I was a little boy." 

The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro was an impressive multiple graded stakes-winner on turf this spring, but new doors opened on June 7 when the talented filly romped to a 17-length victory in an off-the-turf edition of the Grade 3 Wonder Again in a field of three. Another try on grass yielded a nose loss to Fionn in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational on July 5 here, but Nitrogen bounced back with aplomb to notch her first top-level score on Saturday after stalking the pace set by her dual Grade 1-winning stablemate La Cara.

Nitrogen was guided by regular pilot Jose Ortiz, who has now been aboard for the filly’s last eight outings, and broke outwardly from post 4-of-6, brushing with Queen Azteca as the Dylan Davis-piloted La Cara broke from the outside post and sprinted to the lead heading into the first turn. Nitrogen was coaxed along into second and went wide in the first turn as the opening quarter-mile elapsed in 24.94 seconds over the fast footing.

"They went pretty slow early, which I thought would help La Cara, but Dylan said Jose was breathing down his throat the entire time,” Casse said. “Dylan knew what he had to do, I never talked or discussed anything with Jose, but I know Nitrogen had enough speed that she was going to be pretty close.”

Post-time favorite Good Cheer tracked in third a few lengths behind the top pair with her Brad Cox-trained stablemate Margie’s Intention just behind while La Cara marked the half-mile in 49.70. Good Cheer came under a ride from Luis Saez as three-quarters elapsed in 1:13.24 and Nitrogen crept closer to La Cara, but Ortiz remained patient and waited to ask his charge for her best.

La Cara was all out in the turn while Nitrogen swept past with ease to take command, and Good Cheer followed just behind while grinding away under a strong ride from Saez. Nitrogen was all by herself as the mile went in 1:37.12, with the only challenge left to deal with coming from Good Cheer down the center of the course.

Ortiz said he was confident he made his move at the right time.

“I think I made the lead at a good point and she’s a big filly so let her use her stride,” Ortiz explained. “That’s why I didn’t want to pull her back much, after the first turn I put her in the four-path, a little bit wide. I didn’t want to be too close to Dylan but I want to be close, so I put my hands down, I let her get into a nice beautiful stride on the backside, so I was pretty happy with that.”

Nitrogen meandered through the final eighth and drifted in and then out while Good Cheer moved to her inside and closed with every stride, but Nitrogen had something left in the final strides to fend off her Kentucky Oaks-winning rival by 1 1/2 lengths in a final time of 2:03.31.

“When she gets by herself, she tries to get a little bit lost, but I had a clear lead,” Ortiz said. “Luckily, I was clear and nothing happened. So I’ll take it.”

Good Cheer made it a Medaglia d’Oro-sired exacta, and was six lengths better than the late-running Margie’s Intention with La Cara, Queen Azteca and Kinzie Queen completing the order of finish.

Ortiz, who won his fourth Alabama after consecutive wins in 2017-19, said Nitrogen was aided by her ability to settle down the backstretch.

“The main thing for me was getting to the backside and getting her to relax. She took a big deep breath right about the six furlongs and I was very happy with that,” Ortiz said. “I put her in the four-path then I just had to see if she handled it, so I was very careful where I asked her. I don’t want to make an early move but when I asked her the first time, she jumped in the bridle and I was very, very happy with that. So, I was hoping she would handle the dirt in the stretch and give me a little bit. I needed another gear, and she gave it to me so that was amazing.”

Len Green of D.J. Stable said Nitrogen’s impressive 6-for-7 record this year puts her among the top horses in the country.

"This was very impressive, beat some very good horses, and I'd think her next one would be dirt again, but let's see - you are voting, for not only the best 3-year-old, but maybe the best horse,” Green said. “Look at the record, look at how many wins, how many stakes wins... that's what you hope for. And of course, we have to give extra carrots to the broodmare because she made the whole thing."

Trainer Brad Cox said he was proud of his two fillies’ efforts despite an unfavorable pace scenario, especially Good Cheer as she rebounded from a puzzling fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 DK Horse Acorn last out after going 7-for-7 to start her career.

“That’s what happens in a short field. That’s why fillies like this are good in the Kentucky Oaks when you’ve got a big field,” Cox said. “Today, you’re up against it but she tried hard. I think she showed she was ready to run. She put in a good effort.

“Our two fillies, they put themselves where they needed to be and it just didn’t work out today,” Cox added. “I felt that could be an issue coming in beforehand.”

Nitrogen brought her impressive record to 10-6-2-2, adding to previous graded success on grass this year in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs, the Grade 2 Appalachian at Keeneland and Grade 2 Edgewood at Churchill Downs. She banked $330,000 in victory while returning $6.10 on a $2 win ticket.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Saratoga with a 10-race card, highlighted by the Listed $150,000 Bolton Landing in Race 8. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern. 

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

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