There is a school of handicappers reluctant to give Nitrogen her due as a main-track runner. She gets another opportunity to win over the skeptics Friday in the $500,000 Odgen Phipps (G1) at Saratoga.
The Phipps is one of the major undercard events during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at the Spa this weekend. It is also a Breeders’ Cup “Win, and You’re In” stakes, guaranteeing the winner a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) in October at Keeneland.
The Phipps for older fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles attracted a talented field of six with Nitrogen the 7-5 favorite.
Nitrogen started her career on turf and was extremely successful on the lawn with a record of 4-2-2 in eight starts. Following a heart-pounding loss by a nose in the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1), trainer Mark Casse made the fateful decision to switch her to dirt for last summer’s Alabama Stakes (G1), the premier 3-year-old filly race at the meet.
That proved a master stroke as Nitrogen prevailed by 1 1/2 lengths over Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Good Cheer.
She’s remained on dirt ever since.
“Who knows what tomorrow will bring, but right now we’re committed to the dirt,” Casse said.
Following the Alabama, Nitrogen closed out the season with a pair of seconds in Grade 1 stakes: the Spinster at Keeneland and the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar. Those efforts earned her the division champion in the Eclipse Awards voting.
The other two Grade 1s on Friday’s card are the New York Stakes and the Acorn Stakes. The 158th Belmont Stakes (G1) is Saturday, featuring Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Golden Tempo, runner-up and 2-1 favorite Renegade, and seven other 3-year-olds. Belmont post time is 7:04 p.m. ET.
| 2026 Belmont Stakes Odds | ||
| Official post positions set following the post-position draw on Monday, June 1, 2026. | ||
| PP | Horse / Trainer | Morning Line |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vitruvian ManAntonio Fresu · D. O'Neill | 30/1 |
| 2 | PowershiftLuis Saez · T. Pletcher | 12/1 |
| 3 | Chief WallabeeJunior Alvarado · W. Mott | 3/1 |
| 4 | RenegadeIrad Ortiz Jr. · T. Pletcher | 2/1 |
| 5 | OttinhoDylan Davis · C. Brown | 20/1 |
| 6 | Growth EquityManny Franco · C. Brown | 12/1 |
| 7 | CommandmentJohn Velazquez · B. Cox | 6/1 |
| 8 | Emerging MarketFlavien Prat · C. Brown | 6/1 |
| 9 | Golden TempoJose Ortiz · C. DeVaux | 9/2 |
Last Updated on 06/01/2026
Nitrogen started the 2026 campaign with an easy win over a modest company in the Bayakoa Stakes (G3) and a third-place finish in the slop in the Azeri Stakes (G2).
Her most recent effort was a second to ill-fated emerging star Claret Beret in the Apple Blossom Stakes (G1) at Oaklawn Park. Sadly, that was the last appearance for Claret Beret, who passed away last month from an apparent cardiac failure following a routine workout.
“Her first effort back was great, but I thought her second run back was a little bit lackluster. Last time, she was really good,” Casse said of Nitrogen. “It’s very unfortunate that the filly that beat her passed away. I thought that was going to be the start of a really good rivalry.”
For Nitrogen, the beat goes on as she returns to the scene of her Alabama triumph following a pair of stellar workouts at Keeneland.
“She’s training really well,” Casse said.
We agree and are putting her in the top slot on all our tickets. It could also be a schooling day for critics who still believe she belongs on turf.
For the underneath positions, take a look at the Brad Cox-trained duo of Alpine Princess (4-1) and Bless the Broken (6-1). Both figure to be on or close to the pace. If speed is holding well on Friday, look for either to hang on for a major slice of the purse pie.
Fully Subscribed (5-2) should be a presence on the rail for trainer Chad Brown. She was a very good second as the 2-1 favorite in her season debut, the La Troienne Stakes (G1) on the Kentucky Oaks undercard. He has a license to improve on the return to New York, where she won the Mother Goose Stakes (G2) and the Comely Stakes (G3) last Fall at the Big A.
Post time for the Ogden Phipps is 6:25 p.m. ET (race 12).
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.
