Nitrogen defeated the opposite leaders within the 3-year-old filly division in a formidable victory within the prestigious Grade 1 $600,000 Alabama stake offered by Keeneland Gross sales on the Saratoga race course on August sixteenth.
Nitrogen has earned reward as the highest three-year-old filly on the grass after a dominant spring race. She ran wild at size of 17 when Rain pushed her right into a gradual grime monitor of bets on Grade 3 Surprise on June seventh, the query needed to ask, is she merely the very best three-year-old filly? Based mostly on a victory in Alabama on a high-speed grime monitor, the reply appears like sure.
Leonard Inexperienced, proprietor of DJ Steady, has owned and raised horses for about 50 years, so he is aware of one or two issues about high-quality horses. That is why his selfmade defeated one thing like Good Chair, the winner of the Grade 1 Rondin Kentucky Oaks in Good Chair and Tracy Farmer’s twin grade 1 winner, LaCala, the winner of Saturday’s Alabama victory, heading to the highest of his proud victory.
“This is without doubt one of the most fun issues due to the (horse) caliber that was on this race,” Inexperienced stated.
Nitrogen Corridor of Fame coach Mark Cass was additionally across the sensational sophomore stuff by means of his 4,000+ profession wins, however earlier than Nitrogen there was nobody there.
“As a three-year-old filly, the very best I’ve ever had (nitrogen),” he stated of his double-faced star.
Additionally, La Cara, skilled by Casse, performed a serious function in the best way nitrogen journey developed. When La Cara set the tempo, jockey Jose Ortiz needed to stroll the tightrope on the nitrogen to keep away from thwarting each La Cara and Nitrogen’s probabilities in a velocity duel.
A large floating nitrogen was poured on the primary flip to calm each mares, and Ortiz hooked up nitrogen to the lakara tail through fractions of 24.94, 49.70, and 1:13.24.
“I needed to place some stress on slightly bit,” Ortiz stated. “We got here from the identical barn, so I did not wish to kill one another, however I needed her to maintain her in my sights.”
Ortiz handed La Cara and remained comparatively within the saddle as he handed the quarter pole, ready to name for nitrogen. Ortiz wasn’t certain if he may anticipate the identical kick to the identical grime that the nitrogen had proven on the grass again and again.
“Once I requested her I used to be very cautious, I did not wish to transfer early,” Ortiz stated. “The primary time I requested her, she jumped into the bridle. …I wanted one other gear and he or she gave it to me.”
Rebounding from a fifth-place end, which flipped her head over with a grade 1 DK horse stake on June sixth, Good Chare gave her all on stretch however could not get shut sufficient. The nitrogen hits 1 1/2 size to 1 1/2 size whereas stopping the clock at 2:03.31. She paid $6.10 to win.
Nitrogen gained the fifth-grade stakes this season and at the moment has a profession report of 6-2-2 from 10 begins with income of $1,576,604.
