Nitrogen, a champion at both 2 and 3 years old, kicks off her campaign to secure the 4-year-old championship this Saturday in the $250,000 Bayacoa Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares at Oaklawn Park. The Bayacoa Stakes, set for 1 1/16 miles, will headline an 11-race card starting at noon Central, with the race expected to post around 4:13 p.m. as the ninth event on the schedule.
Owned by DJ Stable (Jon and Leonard Green) and trained by Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, Nitrogen was awarded the 2024 Sovereign Award as Canada’s Champion 2-Year-Old Filly and the 2025 Eclipse Award as North America’s Champion 3-Year-Old Filly. Last year, Nitrogen had a busy season with nine starts, winning six stakes races including notable victories in the Alabama (G1) at Saratoga (one mile), the off-the-turf Wonder Again (G3) at Saratoga, the turf Edgewood (G2) at Churchill Downs, and the turf Appalachian (G2) at Keeneland. She last raced in November, finishing second in the 1 1/8-mile Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar against older fillies.
Trainer Casse views the Bayacoa as a stepping stone toward the $400,000 Azerbaijan Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn on March 7 and the prestigious $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) in April. “Initially, I wasn’t planning to run her all the way to Azerbaijan, but she’s in sharp form,” Casse explained. “She doesn’t handle breaks well and has a lot of energy, so I brought her back to training earlier than expected to keep her in shape. After seeing how well she trained, the Bayacoa became a target.”
Nitrogen resumed training in late November and completed two public workouts in Florida before shipping to Oaklawn on January 11. She delivered a strong 5-furlong workout on January 17, though training then paused for nine days due to a winter storm. “Her last training session here was excellent—she ran strong,” Casse noted. “Another workout would have been ideal, but she’s ready.”
The filly, favored at 4-5 odds, will break from post 7 in a field of seven, with regular jockey Jose Ortiz aboard. Nitrogen is a progeny of Medaglia d’Oro and took her first win at Oaklawn in 2002 under trainer David Vance, later clinching the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) under Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel in 2003. Across her career, Nitrogen has competed in 12 races, amassing six wins, four seconds, and two thirds with earnings exceeding $2 million.
Her main competition appears to be Quietside, a multiple Oaklawn stakes winner from John Ed Anthony’s Shortleaf Stable and trainer John Ortiz. Quietside, also ridden by Jose Ortiz, claimed victories in last year’s $500,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) and $750,000 Fantasy Stakes (G2) over 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn. Most recently, Quietside placed second in the Camry Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct over 1 1/8 miles in December.
Completing the lineup are Nerazzurri, Rose Palace, Peignoir, Miss Authentic, and Injust My Heels. Nerazzurri, at 7-2 odds, boasts two wins at Oaklawn this season including a 3 ½-length victory in the $135,000 1st Oaklawn Sports Overnight Stakes on January 1. “The Bayacoa has long been a goal for Nerazzurri,” said Casse. “What was new was seeing Nitrogen also on the scene.”
This article was first published by Paulick Report on February 5, 2026.
Fan Take: This upcoming Bayacoa Stakes showdown is a must-watch for horse racing enthusiasts, as it features the highly decorated Nitrogen facing off against some of Oaklawn’s top contenders. The race not only highlights the competitive landscape of older fillies and mares but also sets the stage for an exciting 2026 season with potential championship implications.
