Nitrogen back on tab; Sandman works for return
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Nitrogen, second to Horse of the Year Sovereignty in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes on Aug. 8, returned to the work tab Wednesday, breezing a half-mile in 50.40 seconds, according to Daily Racing Form clocker Donald Harris, who caught Nitrogen’s first quarter in 26 seconds.
“Nitrogen went a little slow early and I was afraid to tell him to hit the gas pedal because if you do that,” she’d go too fast, trainer Mark Casse said.
Nitrogen, who before the Whitney romped by 12 3/4 lengths in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps, will make her next start in the Grade 2, $400,000 Locust Grove Stakes at Churchill Downs on Sept. 12.
Sandman, winless since his victory in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby in 2025, worked a half-mile in 48.40, according to Harris, who had his opening quarter in 24. Sandman has been away from the races due to a hip injury diagnosed after his last-place finish in the Grade 3 Razorback at Oaklawn in February.
Sandman shows five works at Casse’s training center in Ocala before Wednesday’s move. Casse said he would look for an allowance race for Sandman, potentially at Belmont Park this fall.
“Sandman went real good, he did it very easy, he looked great,” Casse said. “He’s got a lot of works in and he’s been training well.”
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