Nitrous starts paying off on Tapit's $300,000 fee

Perennial leading sire Tapit’s stud fee rose to $300,000 at Gainesway Farm in 2015, making him the most expensive stallion in North America. The first foals conceived on that fee are juveniles of 2018, and Tapit recorded his fourth winner from this crop when Nitrous posted an impressive maiden victory on the first Saturday card of the Saratoga meet. The colt was given a 75 Beyer Speed Figure for the win.

Nitrous was bred by Winchell Thoroughbreds, which campaigned Tapit and maintains a major interest in his stud career at Gainesway Farm. Stonestreet Farm then bought into this colt in partnership. Nitrous is trained by Steve Asmussen, who has handled many of Tapit’s standout offspring, including Winchell homebred champion Untapable and Belmont Stakes winner Creator.

Nitrous finished second on debut last month at Churchill Downs, beaten a neck by Strike Silver, who returned to run a close second in the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes, also on Saturday’s Saratoga card. Prior to that, however, Nitrous streaked to a 3 1/4-length Saturday maiden win as the favorite.

Nitrous is the first foal out of the Grade 3-placed multiple stakes winner Speedinthruthecity. The City Zip mare is from the family of Grade 1-winning juvenile Dawn of War.