On June 17, 2025, Nitrogen aired by 17 lengths in an off-the-turf edition of the Wonder Again Stakes (USA-G3) at Saratoga, her first race on a surface other than turf. After she got nipped at the wire in the Belmont Invitational Oaks (USA-G1), her connections decided to see whether that dirt form was a fluke or limited to the slop. They picked an ambitious spot for the trial. Saturday’s Alabama Stakes Presented by Keeneland Sales (USA-G1) drew a small but select field of six, including both the leading contenders in the American 3-year-old filly division: Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) winner Good Cheer, who dominated the division in the spring, and La Cara, who ripped off front-running victories in the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (USA-G1) and the DK Horse Acorn Stakes (USA-G1). Globe-trotting United Arab Emirates Oaks (USA-G3) winner and Swedish Derby runner-up Queen Azteca and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (USA-G2) winner Margie’s Intention also merited at least some consideration, with Black-Eyed Susan Stakes third Kinzie Queen rounding out the field.
Following the Alabama, there is now a troika at the top of the division instead of a pair. The reigning Canadian champion juvenile filly, Nitrogen thrust herself into Eclipse Award contention on this side of the northern border with a 1½-length win over Good Cheer; La Cara, the early leader, was a leg-weary fourth.
La Cara, who had things her own way in the early going, had no excuse on the track, though her fitness may have been adversely affected by a strangles quarantine that forced her to stay in the barn and miss a planned start in the Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1) on July 19. Good Cheer likewise had no excuse during the race, running a solid second. Nitrogen was simply the best filly that day, despite drifting in and out in the stretch in a manner that suggested that either she lost mental focus or the distance was a little more than really she wanted. Regardless, she is now in position to chart a path to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (USA-G1) and a possible American championship.
Like Good Cheer, Nitrogen is a daughter of three-time Grade 1 winner Medaglia d’Oro, who needs no introduction as a sire of top fillies or for that matter as a top sire, period. The veteran Darley stallion has 186 stakes winners to his credit, including 29 Grade/Group 1 winners, and is currently 10th on the American general sire list. Aside from Nitrogen and Good Cheer, he is also represented this year by dual Grade 1 winner Spirit of St. Louis.
Bred and owned by D. J. Stable, Nitrogen is out of Tiffany Case, who was purchased from the 2019 Keeneland November mixed sale for $320,000 while carrying Nitrogen’s older half sister, Love to Shop (by Violence). A foal of 2020, Love to Shop won the 2023 Toronto Cup Stakes Presented by Crown Royal (CAN-L) and is Grade 2-placed. Since producing Nitrogen, Tiffany Case’s only other live foal has been a 2024 daughter of Gun Runner, now named Sniper. The mare was bred to Not This Time for 2026.
A stakes-placed half sister to 2018 Indiana Oaks (USA-G3) winner and Acorn Stakes runner-up Talk Veuve to Me (by Violence), Tiffany Case is by the late Uncle Mo out of Biblical Point, a winning daughter of Point Given. Produced from Biblical Sense, Biblical Point is a full sister to multiple Grade 2-placed stakes winner Winning Point and a half sister to stakes winner Sense of Duty (by Meadowlake).
Biblical Sense never raced, but she had plenty of pedigree to offer, Sired by Blushing Groom out of the Group 3-placed Northern Dancer mare Star in the North (a half sister to 1975 Prix de Flore, FR-G3, winner Lighted Glory, by Nijinsky II, and to 1986 Prix Kergorlay, FR-G2, winner King Luthier, by Luthier), she is a half sister to 1985 Manhattan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Cool (by Bold Bidder), to 1989 Coloroll Yorkshire Cup (ENG-G2) winner Mountain Kingdom (by Exceller), and to stakes winner Heaven and Earth (by Stop the Music).
Now just a nose shy of being a Grade 1 winner on both dirt and turf, Nitrogen has certainly proved her versatility as well as her class. With a record of six wins and that close second from seven starts in 2025, she has also been as consistent as once could ask. That consistency, combined with her top-flight ability, might just be enough to send her flying to new heights during the remainder of the year.
Following the Alabama, there is now a troika at the top of the division instead of a pair. The reigning Canadian champion juvenile filly, Nitrogen thrust herself into Eclipse Award contention on this side of the northern border with a 1½-length win over Good Cheer; La Cara, the early leader, was a leg-weary fourth.
La Cara, who had things her own way in the early going, had no excuse on the track, though her fitness may have been adversely affected by a strangles quarantine that forced her to stay in the barn and miss a planned start in the Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1) on July 19. Good Cheer likewise had no excuse during the race, running a solid second. Nitrogen was simply the best filly that day, despite drifting in and out in the stretch in a manner that suggested that either she lost mental focus or the distance was a little more than really she wanted. Regardless, she is now in position to chart a path to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (USA-G1) and a possible American championship.
Like Good Cheer, Nitrogen is a daughter of three-time Grade 1 winner Medaglia d’Oro, who needs no introduction as a sire of top fillies or for that matter as a top sire, period. The veteran Darley stallion has 186 stakes winners to his credit, including 29 Grade/Group 1 winners, and is currently 10th on the American general sire list. Aside from Nitrogen and Good Cheer, he is also represented this year by dual Grade 1 winner Spirit of St. Louis.
Bred and owned by D. J. Stable, Nitrogen is out of Tiffany Case, who was purchased from the 2019 Keeneland November mixed sale for $320,000 while carrying Nitrogen’s older half sister, Love to Shop (by Violence). A foal of 2020, Love to Shop won the 2023 Toronto Cup Stakes Presented by Crown Royal (CAN-L) and is Grade 2-placed. Since producing Nitrogen, Tiffany Case’s only other live foal has been a 2024 daughter of Gun Runner, now named Sniper. The mare was bred to Not This Time for 2026.
A stakes-placed half sister to 2018 Indiana Oaks (USA-G3) winner and Acorn Stakes runner-up Talk Veuve to Me (by Violence), Tiffany Case is by the late Uncle Mo out of Biblical Point, a winning daughter of Point Given. Produced from Biblical Sense, Biblical Point is a full sister to multiple Grade 2-placed stakes winner Winning Point and a half sister to stakes winner Sense of Duty (by Meadowlake).
Biblical Sense never raced, but she had plenty of pedigree to offer, Sired by Blushing Groom out of the Group 3-placed Northern Dancer mare Star in the North (a half sister to 1975 Prix de Flore, FR-G3, winner Lighted Glory, by Nijinsky II, and to 1986 Prix Kergorlay, FR-G2, winner King Luthier, by Luthier), she is a half sister to 1985 Manhattan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Cool (by Bold Bidder), to 1989 Coloroll Yorkshire Cup (ENG-G2) winner Mountain Kingdom (by Exceller), and to stakes winner Heaven and Earth (by Stop the Music).
Now just a nose shy of being a Grade 1 winner on both dirt and turf, Nitrogen has certainly proved her versatility as well as her class. With a record of six wins and that close second from seven starts in 2025, she has also been as consistent as once could ask. That consistency, combined with her top-flight ability, might just be enough to send her flying to new heights during the remainder of the year.
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