By Patrycja Szpyra
Any concerns about whether or not she was still Queen of the Hill were dispelled Friday as Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) dominated the GI Ogden Phipps Stakes, earning a guaranteed berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff while she was at it.
A lot was said about Nitrogen's defeat last out Apr. 11 in the GI Apple Blossom Stakes behind the late Claret Beret (Not This Time), and that came on the heels of a third-place finish Mar. 7 in the GII Azeri Stakes. She'd never missed the board on the main track against some of the best fillies and mares in training since swapping surfaces, but more than a few observers were convinced that she was not a fan of the dirt tracks.
Trainer Mark Casse went on record after the race by confidently proclaiming, “I just want to officially say, I'm tired of hearing everybody say she doesn't like the dirt.”
Who are we to argue with the man who knows her best?
While she was only facing five others here, the betting public was not about to abandon her, and they sent Nitrogen off as the even-money favorite with Fully Subscribed (Tiz the Law) next in the wagering at 9-5 odds.
The field broke evenly, but it was Nitrogen who hoofed it to the front heading into the bend, overhauling Fully Subscribed on the rail as that one briefly tried to establish control. Posting an opening quarter in :23.74 and a half-mile in :47.26, Nitrogen was comfortably in command as Bless the Broken (Laoban) tried to keep her honest from the outside.
After six panels in 1:10.48 and turning for home with a building advantage, last year's champion 3-year-old filly kicked away from her rivals while they tried to mount a response. Wandering a touch in midstretch, Jose Ortiz just had to keep her mind on moving forward and she hit the wire with air to spare–12 3/4 lengths more accurately. Fully Subscribed and Bless the Broken were declared a dead-heat for second while Regaled (Mohaymen) came on to claim fourth.
The final time of 1:46.93 was just one-fifth off the track record at Saratoga. The Ogden Phipps was a 'Win and You're In' race for the Breeders' Cup Distaff in October at Keeneland.
Casse enjoyed a stellar afternoon with a victory earlier on the card with Counting Stars (Honor A.P.) in the GI Acorn Stakes.
“When they said it was one-fifth off the track record, Jose [Ortiz] said, 'I could have broken it.' He said he just kind of geared her down,” said Casse afterwards.
“All week when Jose was getting on horses for me, I kept saying, 'The big mare is ready. The big mare is ready.' And then in the paddock, I said I thought we may be on the lead and I told him, 'If so, go for it.' She's got a high cruising speed. I think maybe when you're bottled up a little, it doesn't help her.”
Jose Ortiz ended up doing just that, and despite the drifting, wasn't concerned at any step, saying, “I asked her from the quarter-pole to the eighth-pole and she opened up. She drifted out a little. I looked back, nobody was coming, so I kind of wrapped up.”
“Now I see that she was a fifth off the record, maybe I should've kept asking her and tried to break it, but she did enough. Now, hopefully she is ready for the next one.”
displays a tour de force like the Champion she is in the G1 Ogden Phipps with @jose93_ortiz up for Hall of Fame and '26 Acorn winning trainer Mark Casse. pic.twitter.com/6Y6hHqTrdD
— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) June 5, 2026
Pedigree Note:
Nitrogen is the second black-type winner for her dam, Tiffany Case (Uncle Mo), who changed hands at the beginning of the year at the Keeneland January sale for $3.2-million to Whisper Hill Farm. She had sold pregnant to Not This Time, but that foal ended up dying this past spring. Of her three daughters of racing age, Tiffany Case claims multiple graded placed Love to Shop (Violence) as well as two-time champion Nitrogen, and still has a juvenile in the wings named Sniper (Gun Runner).
The broodmare is a half-sister to 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Talk Veuve to Me (Violence) and hails from the female line which produced the likes of MGSW-Eng Mountain Kingdom and GISW Cool.
Friday, Saratoga
OGDEN PHIPPS S. PRESENTED BY FORD-GI, $500,000, Saratoga, 6-5, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m, 1:46.93, ft.
1–NITROGEN, 124, f, 4, by Medaglia d'Oro
1st Dam: Tiffany Case (SP), by Uncle Mo
2nd Dam: Biblical Point, by Point Given
3rd Dam: Bibical Sense, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
O/B-D. J. Stable, LLC (KY); T-Mark E. Casse; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $275,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Filly-Can, Ch. 3yo Filly-USA, 16-8-5-3, $2,730,854. *1/2 to Love to Shop (Violence), SW & MGSP, $240,778. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
(DH) 2–Bless the Broken, 120, f, 4, by Laoban
1st Dam: The Nightingale, by Tapit
2nd Dam: Storm Dixie, by Catienus
3rd Dam: Golden Wave Band, by Dixieland Band
($950,000 3yo '25 FTKNOV). O-Qatar Racing, Mountmellick Farm and Fergus Galvin; B-Cypress Creek Equine, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $80,000.
(DH) 2–Fully Subscribed, 122, f, 4, by Tiz the Law
1st Dam: Sweetbaby, by Candy Ride (Arg)
2nd Dam: Rutherienne, by Pulpit
3rd Dam: Ruthian, by Rahy
($65,000 RNA Wlg '22 KEENOV; $35,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $300,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Payson Stud Inc (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $80,000.
Margins: 12 3/4, 3 1/4, 3 1/4. Odds: 1.00, 12.67, 1.93.
Also Ran: Regaled, Cassiar, Alpine Princess. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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