Nitrogen eases Casse's mind with sharp work on dry track
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Mark Casse’s fears that Nitrogen’s blowout victory in the off-the-turf Wonder Again Stakes on June 6 was simply a product of a sloppy track were erased Friday morning after the 3-year-old filly worked a sharp half-mile in 47.75 seconds over a fast Saratoga main track.
Starting about three or four lengths behind Time Passage, Nitrogen made up the ground by the wire and continued out five furlongs in 1:00.66 and six furlongs in 1:13.35, according to Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch. Nitrogen is pointing to the Grade 1 Alabama, a 1 1/4-mile dirt race on Aug. 16. Casse is also pointing La Cara to the Alabama, and on Friday that filly returned to the work tab going five furlongs in 59.68.
Prior to her 17-length win against just two rivals in the Wonder Again, Nitrogen’s success came on the grass, winning four consecutive stakes. Following the Wonder Again, Nitrogen was beaten a nose by Fionn in the Saratoga Oaks back on turf. Friday’s work was Nitrogen’s first since that July 5 race.
“My concern that maybe she just liked the off-going is no longer a concern,” Casse said. “She showed me today it doesn’t matter.”
La Cara, a two-time Grade 1 winner on dirt this year, was forced to scratch from last Saturday’s Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks due to a temporary quarantine having been placed on the barn in which she was stabled. That quarantine was lifted Wednesday and on Friday La Cara returned to the tab.
La Cara, working by herself, went in splits of 11.97 seconds, 23.32, 34.72 and completed the move in 59.68, getting a little tired late.
“She loses a little interest too,” Casse said. “I thought she’d be blowing harder. I wanted her tired. I may do that again one more time.”
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