Oaklawn: Nitrogen and La Cara both pointed to Azeri for Casse

Trainer Mark Casse plans to start champion Nitrogen and multiple Grade 1 winner La Cara in the Grade 2, $400,000 Azeri Stakes on March 7 at Oaklawn after Nitrogen delivered a 2 3/4-length victory in Saturday's $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.

Casse, a dual Hall of Fame inductee, debated scratching Nitrogen from the Bayakoa after a winter storm closed the track for nine days of training (Jan. 24–Feb. 1). She posted a five-furlong bullet workout in 1:00.0 on Jan. 17 after arriving from Florida on Jan. 11 but received no further serious training before the race.

"I almost think yesterday was the best race she's ever run," Casse said Sunday morning. "When I flew out here, I was 50-50 whether we were going to run her or not. When we came out, I'd always said we were going to run in the Azeri. I told the Greens she's doing so well that if everything goes right, we'll run in the Bayakoa. Well, nothing went right there."

"We got the one good work in her and then we sat in the barn for 10 days," Casse said. "I struggled with that, big time, because you've got a champion. She's my girl and I don't want to do anything to tarnish her record. So, I did a lot of talking to myself. But when I saw her and I saw her fitness, I was good."

Nitrogen ($2.60), who races for breeder-owners Jon and Leonard Green (D. J. Stable), made her 4-year-old debut and first start since a runner-up finish in the Breeders' Cup Distaff on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. She won a Sovereign Award as Canada's champion 2-year-old filly and an Eclipse Award as North America's champion 3-year-old filly. José Ortiz had the mount Saturday.

The Azeri serves as the final major local prep for the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) on April 11. Both races are 1 1/16 miles.