Nitrogen, the Eclipse Award champion 3-year-old filly of 2025, is back in action as a 4-year-old. Trained by Mark Casse, she is the 4-5 morning-line favorite in the 1 1/16-mile $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park Feb. 7.
The D. J. Stable homebred daughter of Medaglia d'Oro began last year winning the Ginger Brew Stakes on turf at Gulfstream Park Jan. 4. She went on to take the Florida Oaks (G3T), Appalachian Stakes (G2T), and Edgewood Stakes (G2T), all on the grass. She competed in the off-the-turf Wonder Again Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Race Course June 7 which was run on a sloppy and sealed dirt surface, winning by 17 lengths.
This prompted her connections to consider making a switch from turf to dirt, which lead to her biggest win of the year, the Alabama Stakes (G1). The dual-surface filly finished off her 3-year-old season with two runner-up finishes against her elders when second to Gin Gin in the Spinster Stakes (G1) at Keeneland and second in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar to the Bill Mott trainee Scylla.
In the Bayakoa, Nitrogen faces six other fillies and mares, including stablemate Nerazurri who is looking to make it three in a row and remain perfect at Oaklawn. Last out she won the Oaklawn Sports Overnight Stakes by 3 1/2 lengths.
Quietside, trained by John Ortiz, is also beginning her 4-year-old campaign in the Bayakoa. The Shortleaf Stable homebred daughter of Malibu Moon took last year's Fantasy Stakes (G2) and Honeybee Stakes (G3), both at Oaklawn. She was then sixth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and was not seen again til Oct. 18 in the 7-furlong Raven Run Stakes (G2) at Keeneland where she was eighth, beaten 16 1/2 lengths. In her final start at 3, she was second to Fully Subscribed in the Dec. 7 Comely Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The Bayakoa field also includes Eddie Kenneally-trained Miss Authentic, who last out won a 1 1/16-mile allowance race at Oaklawn; Peignoir who was fourth in the Pippin Stakes Dec. 26; the winner of the 2025 Lapatourel Overnight Stakes at Oaklawn, Rose Palace; and Ron Moquett's 5-year-old mare In Just My Heels, who was third in the Pippin Stakes last out.
Oaklawn Park, Saturday, February 7, 2026, Race 9Entries: Bayakoa S. (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Nerazurri (KY) Cristian A. Torres 121 Mark E. Casse 7/2 2 2Rose Palace (KY) Jaime A. Torres 119 Tammy Hornsby 20/1 3 3Peignoir (KY) Luis Saez 119 Rodolphe Brisset 15/1 4 4Quietside (KY) Ricardo Santana, Jr. 119 John Alexander Ortiz 3/1 5 5Miss Authentic (KY) Francisco Arrieta 119 Eddie Kenneally 12/1 6 6In Just My Heels (KY) Evin A. Roman 119 Ron Moquett 15/1 7 7Nitrogen (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 119 Mark E. Casse 4/5
Sandman Returns
Last year's Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Sandman is slated to return to racing in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming race earlier on the Feb. 7 card at Oaklawn Park. Trained by Casse, he began his 3-year-old season second in the Southwest Stakes (G3) and third in the Rebel Stakes (G2) before winning the Arkansas Derby. He was seventh in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and third in the Preakness Stakes (G1) before competing in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) where he was a well-beaten fifth.
His connections then opted to give him a try on the turf in the $2.6 million Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes (G3T) at Kentucky Downs, where he finished ninth. Given the rest of the season off, he returned to the work tab in late November.
Sandman was purchased at the 2024 Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training for $1.2 million and is owned by D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, and CJ Stables. The Tapit colt faces eight rivals, including the Kenny McPeek-trained Sir Greylind who was most recently fifth by 2 3/4 lengths in the Louisiana Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course; 2024 Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Catching Freedom; and Winnemac Avenue, most recently second in an allowance race at Oaklawn.
The allowance optional claiming race goes as the fourth race on the eleven race card. Post time is at 1:32 p.m. CT/2:32 p.m. EST.
