Think Big. (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Keys Casse exacta in Grade 2 Appalachian Presented by Japan Racing Association
Keeneland Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.—D. J. Stable’s homebred Nitrogen swept to the lead in upper stretch and drew off for a 2¼-length victory over stablemate Vixen in the 37th running of the $500,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association for 3-year-old fillies.
Trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Nitrogen completed the mile on a turf course rated as good in 1:37. It is the fourth Appalachian victory for Casse, whose other winners were Papilio (IRE) in 2023, La Coronel in 2017 and Catch a Glimpse in 2016.
Longshot Fast Market set unopposed fractions of :23.31 and :47.75 as Nitrogen raced in the clear in fifth. On the far turn, Nitrogen began to close in before moving five wide into the stretch where she quickly powered past Fast Market.
A Kentucky-bred daughter of Medaglia d’Oro out of the Uncle Mo mare Tiffany Case, Nitrogen posted her third consecutive victory and improved her record to 6-3-1-2 and hiked her earnings to $617,804 with Tuesday’s $302,250 check.
Favored in the field of seven, Nitrogen returned $4.40, $2.42 and $2.10. Vixen, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., returned $2.82 and $2.28 and finished 1¼ lengths in front of Fionn, who paid $3.08 to show under Luan Machado.
It was another neck back to Foxtastic with Totally Justified, Fast Market and Table Flirt following in order.
Quotes for the $400,000 Valvoline Global Shakertown (G2)
Ben Curtis (winning rider of Think Big), On the success he’s having the first few days of the Keeneland meet: “It’s unbelievable. I have to pinch myself, really, because last year we were a bit scared to come here and we gave it a miss – just the competitive nature of the place. I hate sitting in the (jockeys’) room, so we put a lot of work down last year, all building up to this meet. To see it all now coming to fruition is just fantastic. My agent, Ron Faucheux, has done a great job. So yeah, I’m just really enjoying it.”
On his rapport with Think Big: “I’ve known him for a while, and I’ve breezed him a lot. I got on him originally at Colonial (Downs, winning a maiden special weight July 27), where he put in a dominant performance and won well. I got back on him at Fair Grounds (to win an allowance Dec. 7). We shortened him up and put him on the turf (in that race), and he seemed to grow a fifth leg; he really improved with that. Every run he’s had, he’s improved, and he’s done it in a different style. He came from last and rounded the field last time (to win an allowance at Fair Grounds Feb. 7), and today he sat off near the pace and ground it out to the line. So, he’s versatile ground-wise, also surface-wise, so he’s just a dream horse to have, really.”
Flavien Prat (rider of runner-up Rogue Lightning [IRE]): “Good trip. He was very forward. I was traveling well, and he gave me a good run. It was a tough race, but he did everything right.”
Edgard Zayas (rider of third-place finisher Eamonn): “Had a beautiful trip, perfect trip – he stays a little far back. Sometimes (races at) 5½ furlongs are a little short (for him). Six, 6½ furlongs on the turf would be perfect for him. He ran a great race against nice horses.”
Irad Ortiz Jr. (rider of seventh-place finisher and beaten favorite Arzak): “I feel like I was in a good position, but to be honest I think the pace was a little too soft for him. I think he wasn’t handling it too well. He’s a nice horse. He always shows up and he always came around but not today.”
Mike Trombetta (trainer of Arzak): “He’s a lovely horse. I just question whether or not he would handle the course as good as he should have. I get the feeling after watching the race that he didn’t have the same kick that he normally has. Irad said he couldn’t get off the rail inside in the stretch; he wanted to get out a little sooner. He usually closes up with good run.”
