Breeders' Cup Clocker: Nitrogen returns to tab with easy half-mile

KEENELAND
Wednesday, Oct. 21
Weather: Clear
Temperature: 44°
Track: Fast

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse had himself a pretty good morning Wednesday at Keeneland, where he sent out a trio of contenders, including odds-on Breeders’ Cup Distaff favorite Nitrogen to breeze a maintenance-like four furlongs.

The 2025 champion 3-year-old filly shared top billing on a crisp but clear morning with last year’s champion older male Forever Young, who wasted little time getting a feel for the local strip after shipping here from New York the previous day.

Nitrogen, working solo over a fresh track after the first renovation break, cruised an easy half-mile in 48.03 seconds, shading 23 seconds for her final quarter while never being asked at any point. She then galloped out five-eighths in a sharp 1:00.99 in blinkers. The work was her first since dominating the Grade 2 Beldame at Belmont Park four weeks earlier.

Casse breezed both Measure, who will join Nitrogen in the starting lineup for the Distaff, and the very promising 2-year-old Grade 1 winner Voyager in company immediately after the second break. The duo completed their half-mile in a lively 47.29 off a 24.19 opening quarter split, with Measure holding a slight edge to the wire and on the gallop-out working inside her younger mate. The pair continued out five-eighths in 1:00.11 before easing up six furlongs in 1:14.

:: ON SALE NOW: DRF Breeders' Cup Packages! Get everything you need to win and save big.

Dotsy, winner of the Grade 1 Frizette in her most recent start, was the only other potential Breeders’ Cup starter on Wednesday’s tab. The Juvenile Fillies hopeful gave every indication that she has bounced out of her race in good order with her effort here Wednesday morning.

Although officially scheduled to work four furlongs, Dotsy was full of run from the moment she broke away from the stable pony, posting a 13.51-second split from the five-eighths pole before completing her final half, as ordered, in 48.12 off a 24.68 quarter-mile split. She was reaching out nicely to and through the wire without need of urging before continuing into the turn, five-eighths from the half, in 1:01.43. The undefeated filly made a very favorable first local impression in preparation for the Juvenile Fillies a week from Friday.

Forever Young came out on the racetrack at 8 a.m. walking from the wire, accompanied by a pony, back to the half-mile pole and then reversing direction and galloping a very leisurely six furlongs before easing up near the seven-furlong chute. He never appeared fazed at any point by his new surroundings.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.