Through a dominant spring on the grass, Nitrogen drew praise as the top 3-year-old filly on turf. When rain forced her to a sloppy dirt course in the June 7 Wonder Again Stakes (G3) and she romped by 17 lengths, the question had to be asked: Is she just simply the best 3-year-old filly?
Based on her run in the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 16 over a fast dirt course, the answer appears to be yes.
Leonard Green has owned and bred horses for about five decades, so he knows a thing or two about high-quality horses. That's why his D. J. Stable homebred defeating the likes of Godolphin's Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Good Cheer and Tracy Farmer's dual grade 1 winner La Cara shot Saturday's Alabama toward the top of his proudest victories.
"This is by far one of the most exciting because the caliber of (horses) that were in this race," Green said.
That was just the first high-level praise to be awarded by the winning connections. Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse has been around some sensational sophomore fillies through his 4,000-plus career victories, including Lexie Lou and Wonder Gadot defeating males in Canada's Queen's Plate Stakes. However, none before have been Nitrogen.
"As a 3-year-old filly? The best I've ever had," Casse said of his dual-surface star.
Of course, another of the best 3-year-old fillies in Casse's career, La Cara, was also in the field. She ultimately played a huge role in the way Nitrogen's trip developed.
As La Cara set the pace, Jose Ortiz perfectly walked the tightrope with Nitrogen by not sabotaging both Casse horses' chances, but also guaranteeing he'd have the advantage over the stablemate.
Floating wide into the first turn to allow both fillies to settle, he kept Nitrogen attached to La Cara's tail through fractions of :24.94, :49.70, and 1:13.24.
"I wanted to apply pressure little by little," Ortiz said. "We're from the same barn, so I didn't want to kill each other, but I wanted to keep her in my sights."
Ortiz punched past La Cara while remaining relatively still in the saddle as they moved past the quarter pole, waiting to call on Nitrogen as the daunting presence of Good Cheer loomed behind him. Ortiz was not sure whether he could expect the same kick on the dirt she'd shown many times before on the turf. When he did ask for it in the lane, he received it.
"I was very careful when I asked her, I didn't want to make an early move," Ortiz said. "When I asked her for the first time, she jumped in the bridle. ... I needed another gear, and she gave it to me."
Rebounding from her head-scratching fifth-place finish in the June 6 Acorn Stakes (G1), Good Cheer gave it her all in the stretch, but could not get close enough. Nitrogen hit the wire 1 1/2 lengths clear while stopping the clock in 2:03.31. She paid $6.10 to win.
The Alabama proved a showcase for Darley stallion Medaglia d'Oro as his two daughters completed the exacta well clear of the others—Margie's Intention finished six lengths behind Good Cheer in third. Nitrogen became the sire's third grade 1 winner this season, joining Good Cheer and Spirit of St Louis. He stood for a $75,000 fee in 2025 at Darley's Jonabell Farm near Lexington.
Exiting a 2-year-old campaign in which she won Canada's Sovereign Award for champion 2-year-old filly despite finishing the year as a maiden, the newly minted grade 1 winner earned her fifth graded win this season. Nitrogen now has a career record of 6-2-2 from 10 starts for earnings of $1,576,604.
Nitrogen has more than repaid the faith she gave Green and his son, Jonathan, as soon as she was born. Out of their last five crops, she's the only horse they've bred who was never under consideration for any sales.
READ: Nitrogen Aims to Prove 'Generational' Talent in Alabama
Aside from expecting this filly to give them the thrills she did Saturday, Green said keeping her and controlling her campaign also has a business upside since they are adding value to the dam, the stakes-placed Uncle Mo mare Tiffany Case, and the younger, unraced Gun Runner half sister—both of whom are still owned by D. J. Stable.
"It's supposed to be a game of luck, right? No," Green said. "I think you position yourself so that luck runs over you."
Neither Nitrogen nor Tiffany Case will be part D. J. Stable's curated reduction of its bloodstock portfolio at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, where about 30 of their mares will go through the ring beginning Nov. 4. After all, there's still much more to achieve for a filly who has as an infinite amount of options going forward.
"We have the mare, we can actually keep on improving," Green said. "Why not see if we can have a Horse of the Year?"
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