Nitrogen wins the Alabama under Jose Ortiz (Chelsea Durand)
By Amber Joyce
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — D. J. Stable LLC’s star turf filly Nitrogen erased all doubts about her abilities on dirt and became a Grade 1 winner in Saturday’s $600,000 Alabama for sophomore fillies, contested at 1 ¼-miles on a fast main track at Saratoga.
The Mark Casse trainee had won on dirt once before, a dazzling 17-length romp in the June 7 Wonder Again (G3) which had been rained off the turf and reduced to a field of just three starters. Despite the devastating effort, questions were raised on whether Nitrogen was truly just as classy—or perhaps more so—on dirt as turf. The answer? Yes, she is.
After breaking slightly outward from post position four and exchanging bumps with Queen Azteca, Nitrogen tipped outside and raced wide as she pursued frontrunning La Cara. She stalked slow fractions (24:94, 49:70, 1:13.24) set by her stablemate before turning up the pressure from the three-path around the far turn and assuming command at the quarter pole.
Nitrogen shook clear of her competition turning for home and held a two-length advantage in the stretch. She drifted in and out down the lane but maintained her lead and crossed the wire 1 ½ lengths in front in a final time of 2:03.31 under regular pilot Jose Ortiz.
Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Good Cheer, who had raced in midpack for most of the race, made a late rally but had to settle for second. Six lengths behind her came Margie’s Intention, herself far ahead of La Cara, Queen Azteca, and Kinzie Queen.
The Alabama was Nitrogen’s sixth lifetime win (10: 6-2-2) and her fourth graded stakes win. She entered the Alabama off a narrow defeat by a nose in the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) July 5 at Saratoga.
Nitrogen, by Medaglia d’Oro out of stakes-placed Uncle Mo mare Tiffany Case, was bred in Kentucky by her owners.
