Versatility at Highest Level Lands Nitrogen an Eclipse

With her ability to deliver top performances regardless of surface against the top horses in her division, D. J. Stable homebred Nitrogen delivered one of the more versatile campaigns in recent years to secure champion 3-year-old filly honors of 2025. Nitrogen started her season winning some of the biggest turf races for 3-year-old fillies in North America and ended it with a victory on dirt in the Alabama Stakes (G1) and top finishes in grade 1 dirt races against older rivals. A look back at Kentucky Oaks (G1) day points to how dramatically things would turn. Good Cheer entered the Kentucky Oaks as division leader and extended her advantage with a clear victory in that 1 1/8-mile dirt test. Earlier that day at Churchill Downs, Nitrogen registered a 3 1/2-length victory as the favorite in the Edgewood Stakes (G2T) at 1 1/16 miles on the grass. That marked Nitrogen's fourth straight stakes turf win to start the 2025 season as the daughter of veteran sire Medaglia d'Oro entered off scores in the Ginger Brew Stakes at Gulfstream Park, Florida Oaks (G3T) at Tampa Bay Downs, and Appalachian Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland. As well as Nitrogen was going, her next start would be prove a sliding-doors moment when trainer Mark Casse left her in an off-the-turf edition of the Wonder Again Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Race Course. She responded with a 17-length victory over two rivals on the sloppy surface. Casse credits owners Jonathan and Leonard Green with taking the pressure off his decision by saying if things didn't work out, they'd take the heat. Casse saw plenty to know another dirt try down the road would be warranted. That opportunity presented itself after a close runner-up finish to Fionn in the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) July 5 at Saratoga. Going into the Belmont Oaks, Casse already decided to take a shot with Nitrogen on dirt at the highest level in the 1 1/4-mile Alabama Stakes (G1) Aug. 16 at Saratoga. With a fast track under her feet in the Alabama, Nitrogen again would prove up to the challenge as she raced on or near the lead under regular rider Jose Ortiz before taking a 2-length lead in the stretch and posting a clear win over Good Cheer. "Her versatility made it special," Casse said of the season. "She was the top turf filly in the country and then to win the Alabama so impressively, she showed she could handle any surface." While United States racing does not officially have classics for 3-year-old fillies, the Kentucky Oaks and 1 1/4-mile Alabama of recent years certainly are viewed in that light. A sweep of those two races likely would have nailed down the championship for Good Cheer, who also is by Medaglia d'Oro. Now it would be Nitrogen moving to the fore. While Nitrogen would place second in her final two starts of the year, the Spinster Stakes (G1) at Keeneland (earning a career-best 112 Equibase Speed Figure) and Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar, those finishes were best of any 3-year-olds in those races, respectively won by Gin Gin and Scylla.