LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Stablemates Nitrogen and Vixen were one-two in the Grade 2 Appalachian Stakes last month at Keeneland, and they came about as close as they could have to another exacta on Friday at Churchill Downs.
Nitrogen, a D J Stable homebred trained by Mark Casse, cruised home by 3 1/2 lengths, while fellow Casse trainee Vixen, co-owned by D J Stable and Eclipse Thoroughbreds, just got nosed out for second in the Grade 2, $600,000 Edgewood Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the turf.
Nitrogen ($3.94), under Jose Ortiz, sat a beautiful stalking trip in a pocket in third, rating kindly as stablemate Vixen, a graded-stakes winner in Florida earlier this year, tracked Gowells Delight through an opening half of 48.87 seconds.
“She's so nice because she shuts off for Jose,” Casse said.
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Vixen loomed up on the leader and tried to quicken into the stretch, but Nitrogen tipped out for room and powered clear.
“When I tipped out at the quarter pole, she was loaded,” Ortiz said. “Very simple trip.”
Lush Lips rallied to be second by a nose over Vixen. It was just three-quarters of a length to Alterradora in fourth, followed by Will Then, Gowells Delight, and Hideaway. Admit was scratched on Friday morning.
The time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:41.58 on a turf course that was officially rated firm. Nitrogen earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure, tying her career best.
There's no dampening Nitrogen’s ascent, however, as she remains unbeaten in four starts this year with her victory. Last year, while still a maiden, she was third, beaten less than a length, in the Grade 1 Natalma at Woodbine, and was again third, rallying from 11th in the stretch, in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. This year, she ripped through the Ginger Brew and Grade 3 Florida Oaks before coming to Kentucky to win the Appalachian and Edgewood.
“Her race in the Breeders' Cup, I think she could have given the winner a run for her money but had a rough trip,” Casse said. “And she's just built from that.”
Casse indicated Nitrogen will target the Grade 1 races for the division in New York this summer.
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