Nitrogen conquers fast dirt, 5 rivals in Alabama at Saratoga

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Nitrogen was the winner of a showdown between top 3-year-old fillies in the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday.

In just her second start on a dirt track, Nitrogen stalked pacesetter La Cara and easily took over the lead at the top of the stretch. She held off a late challenge from Good Cheer and drew off to win the 1 1/4-mile test by 1 1/2-lengths.

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Nitrogen made the first seven starts of her career on the turf and piled up four stakes victories in a row starting in January. She broke her maiden in the Ginger Brew at Gulfstream Park and then won three graded stakes. It was at Saratoga in June when Nitrogen won the Wonder Again (G3) on the main track after it was moved to a sloppy and sealed surface.

Following a loss by a nose in the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1), trainer Mark Casse made the Alabama the goal for her next race for the Medaglia d’Oro filly who is owned by Len Green’s New Jersey-based D J Stable.

Nitrogen turned in a pair of excellent workouts on the fast-rated main track at Saratoga that filled Casse with confidence that her wet-track victory was an indication of what was to come in the Alabama.

“After the win on the sloppy track, there were still questions, but she worked so well on the fast track that I knew she would run well,” Casse said.

Two-time Grade 1 winner La Cara, who also is trained by Casse, went right to the lead out of the gate. Nitrogen settled a length behind with the Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Good Cheer another two lengths behind in third place. As those three stayed in that order for the first mile of the race, the fractions were a not-so-fast 24.94, 49.70, 1:13.24 and 1:37.12.

“They went pretty slow early, which I thought would help La Cara, but José (Ortiz, regular rider of Nitrogen) was breathing down her throat the entire time,” Casse said. “I never talked or discussed anything with José, but I know Nitrogen had enough speed that she was going to be pretty close.”

Coming out of the second turn, Ortiz dropped his hands down, and Nitrogen easily move past La Cara on the outside and opened a lead down the stretch while drifting several paths outward.

“I kept her outside every step of the way. I wasn’t further than a length (away),” Ortiz said. “I knew she had a shot, but I also had to worry about Good Cheer. 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. 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.”

Ortiz had to tap her with his crop a few times with his right hand. It was not to urge her to run faster but to try and stop her from bearing out.

“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.”

The final time of the race was 2:03.31.

Nitrogen was the 2-1 second choice in the betting and returned $6.10, 2.80 and 2.20 for a $2 win-place-show wager. As the 7-5 favorite Good Cheer was second, six lengths clear of 8-1 show filly Margie’s Intention. The $2 exacta paid $11.20, and the $2 trifecta yielded $36.20. Early leader La Cara was 5-2 and faded to fourth place.

With the win and her versatility on two surfaces, Nitrogen put herself into the Eclipse Awards discussion.

“This horse won a Grade 1 on the dirt now, so it’s amazing,” Ortiz said. “Hopefully, she comes back, puts up another couple more good performances and gets 3-year-old filly of the year.”