They bet her like she would dominate, and so she did. With an electric turn of foot, Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro–Tiffany Case, by Uncle Mo) rolled past her rivals in the lane and scored an emphatic victory in the GII Edgewood Stakes at Churchill Downs to kick off the graded action on Kentucky Oaks day.
Coming into this contest on a three-race win streak which began when she broke her maiden Jan. 4 in the Listed Ginger Brew Stakes at Gulfstream Park, Nitrogen has also been the betting choice for all three of those contests. From that seasonal bow in Hallandale, she picked up the GIII Florida Oaks over Lush Lips (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) Mar. 8 at Tampa Bay Downs, and beat stablemate Vixen (Vekoma)–who is also back here–by 2 1/4 lengths last out Apr. 8 in the GII Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland.
Carrying 4-5 odds for this jump, the Mark Casse filly was in no rush from the rail as they clicked off :23.67, :48.87, and 1:13.20 splits into the far bend. Confidently handled as they entered the homestretch, she had to muscle her way into clear running and the move left her five wide for the drive. Given her cue, it was over before the rally really began as she inhaled her inside competition at the furlong pole and coasted home with air to spare. Lush Lips (GB) rallied gamely to nail Vixen on the line in a photo for second.
“She's amazing, isn't she?” said Mark Casse. “I keep saying this…but her race in the Breeders' Cup [Juvenile Fillies Turf], she could have given the winner a run for the money if she didn't have a rough trip. She has just built from that race.”
“She's so nice because she shuts off for Jose [Ortiz] and he taps her on the shoulder and she takes off. She is usually outside but they had her pinned in a little bit. She's a big filly and she pushed her way out and said 'get out of my way.'”
Ortiz concurred on those points saying, “She broke great and put me into a great position around both turns. When I tipped out at the quarter pole, she was loaded. Very simple trip. She's amazing.”
Nitrogen with a strong closing kick under Jose Ortiz to win the G2 Edgewood Stakes presented by Accenture! Mark Casse trains the D.J. Stable homebred. pic.twitter.com/ggklOzy4jT
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 2, 2025
Pedigree Note:
Nitrogen is the second foal to the races for her dam, but between the two sisters, they've already accomplished more than many broodmares ever see their offspring achieve. Half-sibling Love to Shop (Violence) was the first to obtain black-type of any kind when she ran third in the 2023 GIII Ontario Colleen Stakes at Woodbine, and was last seen running second in the GII Bessarabian Stakes at that Canadian venue early last November.
Since these two, dam Tiffany Case has produced a yearling filly by Gun Runner named Sniper and was not bred for 2025. The mare is a half-sister to GSW & GISP Talk Veuve to Me (Violence). Second dam Biblical Point (Point Given) claims SW & MGSP Winning Point as a full-sister and is a half to MSP Gilded Wings (Gilded Time), herself responsible for a branch of the family which produced G1 Dos Mil Guineas-placed Good Runner (Chi) (Good Samaritan). This is the immediate family of multiple Group winner and Group 1-placed Mountain Kingdom and GISW Cool.
Friday, Churchill Downs
EDGEWOOD S. PRESENTED BY ACCENTURE-GII, $575,000, Churchill Downs, 5-2, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:41.58, fm.
1–NITROGEN, 120, 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)
O/B-D. J. Stable, LLC (KY); T-Mark E. Casse; J-Jose L. Ortiz.$363,800. Lifetime Record: MGISP, 7-4-1-2, $981,604. *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), 118, f, 3, Ten Sovereigns (Ire)–Lamyaa (GB), by Arcano (Ire). (£82,000 Ylg '23 GOFFUK). O-Medallion Racing, Steve Weston, Stewart Hoffman, Mrs. Paul Shanahan and Mrs. M. V. Magnier B-The Pocock Family (GB); T-Brendan Walsh. $98,000.
3–Vixen, 120, f, 3, Vekoma–Top Mission, by Noble Mission (GB). ($57,000 Ylg '23 KEEJAN; $22,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $200,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR). O-D. J. Stable LLC and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Jason Edward Howard (KY); T-Mark Casse. $59,000.
Margins: 3HF, NO, 3/4. Odds: 0.97, 3.63, 3.92.
Also Ran: Aterradora (Ire), Will Then, Gowells Delight, Hideaway. Scratched: Admit.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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