Nitrogen can play it cool for six in a row

Convergent takes on Germany’s bestBelmont Oaks (Grade 1) 11.13pm

WITH no European challengers this year, the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks has come up a bit light. The nine-furlong turf Grade 1 race has only seven runners and the Mark Casse-trained Nitrogen is a short-priced favourite.

Although Nitrogen failed to win in three starts as a juvenile, she finished third in both the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and Natalma Stakes.

Nitrogen has since won five in a row in 2025, rattling off four graded stakes victories.

She won by large margins, and her Grade 2 Edgewood triumph at Churchill Downs came by a decisive three and a half lengths over Lush Lips, who then dominated the Tepin Stakes last week on her next start.

The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro has some tactical speed and will possibly get a lead behind Opulent Restraint and Totally Justified.

The Brad Cox-trained/Flavien Prat-ridden filly Fionn won four of her last five starts on grass, most recently launching a big run to take the Grade 3 Regret at Churchill Downs. Her only defeat in four runs this year came when third to Nitrogen in the Appalachian.

Frankie Dettori has a squeak on May Day Ready. She went to Japan for the Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies but made no show and was also well beaten behind Nitrogen in the Wonder Again in June on dirt.

But she had three wins including a triumph in a Grade 2 at two, and she finished a length ahead of Nitrogen when second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Returning to grass for her second start of the season should help the Tapit filly bounce back.