Vixen

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...

Fresh off a pair of wins to launch her sophomore campaign, D J Stable's Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) closed from off the pace to annex Tuesday's GII Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland. Content to survey a moderate opening pace of :23.31 and :47.45 set by longshot Fast Market (Volatile) from near midpack, the 6-5 choice began to mount her challenge while swinging to the outside turning for home. Gaining control midstretch, the favorite drifted out slightly, however, drew clear and was able to maintain a comfortable advantage late, finishing 2 1/4 lengths...

Last year ended on a high note for Top o' the Lane Farm and has continued into 2025. Vixen (Vekoma) was second by a neck in the GI Natalma Stakes last September, then followed it up by a solid run in the Breeders' Cup after having to break from the parking lot and has continued on in 2025 after a short break to capture the Sweetest Chant Stakes and GIII Herecomesthebride Stakes. Keeneland November was a major success with three foals going through the ring to great connections through Highgate...

To many, no doubt, her genetic contribution is by now too attenuated to merit attention. At the very least, however, it must be acknowledged an impressive coincidence that the winners of both the GIII Iroquois Stakes and GIII Pocahontas Stakes--whose shared value, as reconnaissance for the Classics over the same track next May, is recognized by allocation of the first starting points--should share as sixth dam the Darby Dan foundation mare Golden Trail. The Golden Trail dynasty entwines such productive lines as those branded by Memories of Silver, Sunshine Forever...

Trainer Mark Casse had won the GI Natalma Stakes no fewer than seven times dating back to Woodford Racing's Sprung (Grand Slam) back in 2006, but he had not succeeded since 2016, when Victory to Victory (Exchange Rate) carried the silks of Charlotte Weber's Live Oak Stud. The Hall of Famer had every chance to add to that total and snap the drought in Saturday's renewal, as he saddled six of the 11 juvenile fillies that went postward, and when all was said and done, the stable accounted for the...