Nitrogen is gearing up for another run in the Breeders' Cup, with Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse hoping the third time is the charm.
The 4-year-old filly will be one of the stars at the 43rd Breeders' Cup at Keeneland on Oct. 30-31, headlining the field for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1).
As a 2-year-old, Nitrogen finished a closing third as a maiden in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Del Mar. Last year as a 3-year-old, Nitrogen ran second to Scylla, also at Del Mar.
Even with that runner-up finish, Nitrogen was voted champion 3-year-old filly as she moved from turf to dirt and won six of nine starts, including the Alabama Stakes (G1).
Nitrogen, who arrived in Keeneland earlier this week, had quite a summer season at Saratoga, winning the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) by 12 ¾ lengths, then running second to Horse of the Year Sovereignty in the Whitney Stakes (G1) against the boys.
She warmed up for the Distaff with a gate-to-wire stroll over four rivals in winning the Beldame Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park on Sept. 25.
"She's doing well,” Casse said as Nitrogen settled in at Keeneland. “I thought the Beldame was a good race. I liked the timing. It looks like a showdown between her and Chad's filly.”
Chad's filly is Full Subscribed, the Chad Brown-trained 4-year-old who was second to Nitrogen in the Ogden Phipps, but has won three in a row since: the Shuvee Stakes (G3), the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1), and the Spinster Stakes (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 4.
The Distaff field looks to be another strong one. In addition to these two top contenders, others could be Immersive, Splendora, and Super Corredora, who won last year's Distaff. No matter who's running, expect Nitrogen to be on or near the lead under Jose Ortiz.
“She'll be pretty close. We may slow her down a little bit, but we're not going to take hold of her. We're going to let her do her thing,” Casse said.
Napoleon Solo posted another sharp workout at Belmont Park on Friday, breezing 6 furlongs in 1:11.
Second by a half-length in both the Haskell Stakes (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1) following the Preakness, the 3-year-old colt will be pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Trainer Chad Summers said he's leaning toward the Classic.
“It was kind of a stamina-building breeze,'' Summer said, adding ... "The key today was getting that big gallop-out into him – he galloped out a mile and an eighth, and that’s what we were looking for.
Napoleon Solo has three works in at Belmont, including a 5-furlong bullet in 58.00 on Oct. 1 under Hall of Famer John Velazquez.
As for the Classic or the Dirt Mile, Summer said: “It’s all going to be up to the team. We’ll pre-enter in both races, and we’ll see. At this stage, I would be surprised if we didn’t run in the Classic.”
Jamie Spencer, among the top international jockeys, is settling in at Santa Anita Park for what could be an extended stay in Southern California
The 46-year-old Irishman, a former champion in England and Ireland, has won more than 2,000 races and arrived from Woodbine in Canada after winning the Canadian International (G1) aboard Arabian Crown for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby.
Spencer has two mounts on Saturday --Ellen Jorth (4-1) in the fifth race for trainer Phil D’Amato and Santa Barbarian (3-1) in the 10th for trainer Ryan Hanson.
This will be Spencer’s first time riding on a full-time basis in North America.
“Obviously it’s a quiet time of year in England (for racing),” Spencer said. “Normally I shut down at the start of November as I don’t race on the all-weather (tracks) there in November, December, January and part of February. I just thought this year let’s try something different. Carry on here at Santa Anita for this meet, then hopefully Del Mar, and if things go well continue on at Santa Anita through the winter.”
Spencer has won 19 races – 10 Grade 1s – on the U.S. and Canada and ridden in 11 Breeders' Cups.
Spencer also plans a trip to Australia during the final weeks of the Santa Anita fall meet and will be aboard Ryal Supremacy in the $4.5 million Caulfield Cup (G1).
Out for two months after a foot injury sustained in a pre-race incident at Saratoga on Aug. 8, Irad Ortiz, Jr. returned to Keeneland on Oct. 2, opening day of the Fall meet.
The five-time Eclipse Award winner posted one victory in seven starts that day, taking the Phoenix Stakes (G2) aboard Nakatomi.
According to the Keeneland notes team, Ortiz broke seven bones in his left foot and thought he was finished for the year.
"I thought I was done for the year,’’ he said. “It feels great to be out there competing, enjoying the races. I was getting ready, getting fit and doing a lot of rehab on my foot. People like (trainer) Brad (Cox). I was getting on horses early for him, getting fit.”
Through Oct. 9, Ortiz won eight of 37 starts. He also won a graded stakes race aboard Rhetorical in the Coolmore Turf Stakes (G1) on Oct. 3.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
