Nitrogen points to BC Distaff, will race as 5-year-old

Nitrogen, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2025 and leader in the clubhouse for championship honors in the older female dirt division this year, will return to race as a 5-year-old in 2027, trainer Mark Casse said Saturday.

“I spoke to the Greens this morning, and they told me as long as she’s happy and healthy she’s going to run as a 5-year-old,” Casse said, referring to Len and Jon Green who comprise D J Stable, which owns Nitrogen.

Of course, Nitrogen’s 4-year-old season is not done yet. Nitrogen came out of her victory in Friday’s Grade 2 Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park in good order and will make her next start in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Oct. 31 at Keenland. Casse said Nitrogen would not be considered for the $7 million Classic the same day.

“She’s going to run in the Distaff, we’re not looking at anything else,” he said.

Nitrogen earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure for her 2 3/4-length victory in Friday’s Beldame, a race in which she controlled things on the front end under Jose Ortiz, then repelled an upper-stretch challenge from Donor Advised to win handily despite drifting out some late.

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“I thought it was good,” Casse said. “I think Jose was trying to give her as easy a race as he could. I thought she got a little bored on the front end, but when he asked her to run she finished. She wasn’t overly tired after the race, so that’s good. The Beyer was good.”

Though Casse on Sunday planned to ship several horses from Belmont to Keeneland – including Counting Stars who will run in the Grade 1 Spinster on Oct. 4 – he said Nitrogen would remain at Belmont for another 10 to 12 days.

Casse said Nitrogen would have no more than two workouts, both at Keeneland, leading up to the Distaff.

Nitrogen, who finished second to Scylla in last year’s Distaff, improved her record to 9 for 18 with her Beldame victory and pushed her career earnings to $3,068,354.

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