D. J. Stable's Nitrogen Has Chemistry in Florida Oaks

There was chemistry Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs. Nitrogen the element may be seventh on the periodic table, but Nitrogen (f, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Tiffany Case, by Uncle Mo) the filly was first Saturday in the 42nd running of the GIII Florida Oaks. Last seen breaking her maiden in the Ginger Brew Stakes at Gulfstream Park in January, the D. J. Stable LLC homebred added her first graded tally to the two Grade I placings already on her CV.

Midpack early from the ninth stall behind the :23.15 first fraction set by Lush Lips (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), Nitrogen advanced to a tracking spot by the time the first half was completed in :47.15. Lush Lips, winner of her last two in a row at Gulfstream, continued to set the pace as Nitrogen slowly unfurled what appeared to be giant strides. Nitrogen chased down the frontrunner, collaring her late despite drifting, to win by a half-length, covering the 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.42. It was another four lengths back to last-out Suncoast Stakes third Deloraine (Candy Ride {Arg}), with Chelsey Flower winner Opulent Restraint (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in fourth.

Unveiled with a runner-up finish at a mile on Woodbine's turf late last August, Nitrogen was wheeled back two weeks later for a sharp third at 41-1 in the GI Natalma Stakes. Sent without a win to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, Nitrogen notched another third, this time at 49-1. Connections gave her two months off before she reappeared in the aforementioned Ginger Brew for her first visit to the winner's circle. The Florida Oaks marked her second consecutive win.

Pedigree Notes:

Add another top 3-year-old filly to the tally for Darley veteran Medaglia d'Oro, who has some good ones on the GI Kentucky Oaks trail this year in Good Cheer and Ballerina d'Oro. They excel on the dirt, but Nitrogen has stuck to the grass. Just as he isn't constrained solely to one surface, Medaglia d'Oro also isn't limited to 3-year-old fillies, as he's had top runners in just about every category imaginable. One of 184 black-type winners worldwide for her sire, Nitrogen is his 97th graded winner. She is his first stakes winner out of a daughter of the late Uncle Mo, who has 25 black-type winners as a broodmare sire, including Saturday's GII Azeri Stakes winner Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna), the reigning Horse of the Year, and top GI Kentucky Derby contender Journalism (Curlin).

Nitrogen's dam, Tiffany Case, was a $320,000 purchase by D. J. Stable at the 2019 Keeneland November sale while carrying her first foal, a filly by Violence. Eventually named Love to Shop, that filly became a stakes winner and multiple graded-placed campaigner for Repole Stable and St. Elias, who bought her for $200,000 as a Keeneland yearling. Nitrogen is Tiffany Case's second foal, while her third is a yearling filly by Gun Runner. Tiffany Case, a half-sister to GSW & GISP Talk Veuve to Me (Violence), was not bred for 2025.

Saturday, Tampa Bay Downs
FLORIDA OAKS-GIII, $150,000, Tampa Bay Downs, 3-8, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:40.42, fm.
1–NITROGEN, 121, f, 3, 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)
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-D. J. Stable, LLC (KY); T-Mark E. Casse; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $90,000. Lifetime Record: MGISP, 5-2-1-2, $315,554. *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.
2–Lush Lips (GB), 119, f, 3, Ten Sovereigns (Ire)–Lamyaa (GB), by Arcano (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. (£82,000 Ylg '23 GOFFUK). O-Medallion Racing, Steve Weston, Mrs. Paul Shanahan and Mrs. M.V. Magnier; B-The Pocock Family (GB); T-Brendan P. Walsh. $30,000.
3–Deloraine, 119, f, 3, Candy Ride (Arg)–Elaine's Cat, by Discreet Cat. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Eoin G. Harty. $15,000.
Margins: HF, 4, 3/4. Odds: 1.50, 5.20, 18.50.
Also Ran: Opulent Restraint (Ire), Love You Anyway, Smart Union, Miss Rummikub (Fr), Pretty Lavish (Ire), Smudge, Celtic Motif (Ire), Brillante (Fr). Scratched: Miavana.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

#9 NITROGEN ($5.00) sits off the pace with @jose93_ortiz and they fire in time to win the $200,000 Florida Oaks (G3) for trainer @markecasse and owner D.J. Stable. Another graded winner for @DarleyAmerica's Medaglia D'oro. pic.twitter.com/QzJnENBf7f

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