Breeders' Cup Distaff: Nitrogen looks to do Medaglia d’Oro proud
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Stalwart sire Medaglia d’Oro’s pensioning was announced in October by Darley. But as the 26-year-old son of El Prado enjoys the early days of his retirement, he has plenty of hurrahs still left on the racetrack – including when Nitrogen runs in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
The multitalented filly, already a Sovereign Award Canadian champion after finishing a close third in the Juvenile Fillies Turf last year, switched to dirt this year. In her two most recent starts, she won going away in the Grade 1 Alabama and finished a close second in the Grade 1 Spinster.
“I was looking at some of her numbers and it’s amazing how much better she is on the dirt,” trainer Mark Casse told track publicity. “She’s thriving and ready to go. Without being too cocky, I think they have to beat her.”
Nitrogen is one of two outstanding 3-year-old fillies in 2025 for Medaglia d’Oro, who sired his record-tying third Kentucky Oaks winner this year with Good Cheer. She follows 2009 Horse of the Year and Hall of Famer Rachel Alexandra and 2011 winner Plum Pretty. King Alfonso also sired three Oaks winners with Katie Creel in 1882, Vera in 1883, and Lizzie Dwyer in 1885.
Behind this 3-year-old crop, Medaglia d’Oro has 81 2-year-olds this year, and, according to Equineline, he just recorded his first winner from that crop, Orbit. According to The Jockey Club, he had 63 live foals in 2024 and has averaged $221,236 from 29 yearlings sold this year. He has 43 live foals in his current weanling crop and covered 56 mares this year in his final season.
Medaglia d’Oro, a three-time Grade 1 winner who was second in the 2002 and 2003 editions of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, is the sire of 198 stakes winners, 104 of them at the graded/group level. Those include four Breeders’ Cup winners – Songbird (2015 Juvenile Fillies), New Money Honey (2016 Juvenile Fillies Turf), Bar of Gold (2017 Filly and Mare Sprint), and Talismanic (2017 Turf). Songbird joined Rachel Alexandra as Eclipse Award champions for her sire.
Medaglia d’Oro is the sire of eight champions worldwide, including his top earner, Golden Sixty, a three-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year who earned more than $21.2 million in U.S. funds. He is also the sire of Australian champion Vancouver, Canadian Horse of the Year Wonder Gadot, Canadian champion Souper Escape, and Mexican champion Medaglia d’Orizaba.
Moreover, he is the sire of Grade/Group 1 winners Astern, Bolt d’Oro, Cambier Parc, Champagne d’Oro, Coffee Clique, Crown Prosecutor, C. S. Silk, Dickinson, East Avenue, Elate, Flit, Higher Power, Gabby’s Golden Gal, Lochte, Marketing Mix, Mshawish, New Money Honey, Olympic, Passion for Gold, Spirit of St Louis, Violence, and Warrior’s Reward.
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