As anticipated, Nitrogen demonstrated remarkable ease on the track. The champion filly, who excelled as a two- and three-year-old, kicked off her four-year-old campaign by defeating stablemate Nerazzurri in the $250,000 Bayacoa Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares held Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn.
Under the skillful guidance of regular jockey Jose Ortiz, Nitrogen finished two-thirds of a length ahead of Nerazzurri in the 1 1/16-mile contest, with three furlongs remaining. Multiple Oaklawn Stakes winner Quietside trailed in third by an additional 6 1/4 lengths. Other finishers included Injust My Heels, Miss Authentic, and front-runners Rose Palace. Peignoir suffered an injury and was scratched, reducing the field to six competitors.
The 1-5 favorite Nitrogen paid $2.60 to win. This victory marked dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse’s seventh stakes win at the 2025-2026 Oaklawn meet.
Bred and owned by DJ Stable (John and Leonard Green), Nitrogen earned the Sovereign Award as Canada’s Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 2025 and the Eclipse Award as North America’s top Three-Year-Old Filly that same year. This was her first race since finishing second in the 1 1/8-mile Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) last November 1 at Del Mar.
Nitrogen broke sharply from post six, tracking Rose Palace and Nerazzurri on the outside, passing the half-mile in 48.33 seconds. Approaching the three-eighths pole, Nerazzurri and Nitrogen absorbed Rose Palace’s early pace and pulled away as a duo down the stretch.
Taking the lead on the outside near the eighth pole, Nitrogen powered clear to cross the finish in 1:43.53—an impressive clock for the distance.
By Medaglia d’Oro out of the Uncle Mo mare Tiffany Case, Nitrogen earned her seventh win from 13 career starts and boosted her earnings to $2,192,854. She has tallied seven stakes victories, beginning with her first triumph in January 2025 at the Ginger Brew Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Among her major wins is the prestigious Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga last August.
Trainer Casse views the Bayacoa as a stepping stone for Nitrogen toward the $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) on March 7 and the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) on April 11, both 1 1/16-mile races contested at Oaklawn.
Saturday’s event in Hot Springs, Arkansas, drew an estimated crowd of 27,500 with a total Mutuel handle of $11,034,480.50.
Bayacoa Race Insights
Winning Jockey Jose Ortiz (Nitrogen): “She’s fantastic. What can I say about Mark Casse and his team—they came back ready. It’s great to see them winning again. She has been well-prepared, running just a few months ago in November and now in February. She belongs in the Hall of Fame. At the first turn, a couple of horses (Rose Palace and Nerazzurri) took the lead while Cristian eased back to second. I approached cautiously since it was her first race back but had a comfortable lead and waited for the right moment. She responded beautifully when I asked her, then I eased off, and she was very satisfied with her effort.”
Trainer Mark Casse (Nitrogen/Nerazzurri): “She continues to surprise me and makes me look good. People say she’s in a league of her own—that surprises me. We have a champion on our hands, so I felt the pressure today and was quite nervous, especially since the track was closed for nine days in late January. But everything went well and we were able to run in the Bayacoa as planned. Cristian Torres even joked that we should consider living here because both horses feel like our children. But Nitrogen is the standout.”
Second Place Jockey Cristian Torres (Nerazzurri): “She’s been putting in strong efforts. But Nitrogen is a Grade 1 winner on dirt and turf and a Breeders’ Cup runner-up—an incredible filly. I’m proud of my filly as well; she’s improving gradually and shows up every time she races.”
This article was originally published by Paulick Report on February 8, 2026.
Fan Take: Nitrogen’s commanding return signals the arrival of a true superstar poised to dominate the filly division this year, raising excitement and stakes for upcoming Grade 1 races. For horse racing fans, her continued excellence brings renewed energy and storylines that can draw new audiences and elevate the sport’s visibility.
