Betting With, and Against, Nitrogen in the Azeri Stakes

Six fillies and mares will try to knock off champion #2 Nitrogen (4-5) in the $400,000 Azeri (G2) at Oaklawn Park on Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile affair attracted a solid group of ladies, but the race will go through the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, who was a stylish, 2 3/4-length heroine of the Bayakoa (G3) in her seasonal bow on the oval.

Nitrogen – With

• $1 superfecta 2 with 3,5,6 with 3,5,6 with all ($24)
• $2 superfecta key 2 with 3,5,6 ($12)

Nitrogen – Against

• $3 trifecta 3,6 with 2,3,5,6 with 2,3,5,6 ($36)

Nitrogen has been first or second in each of her five lifetime runs on the dirt and has room to improve while making her second run off the bench. The bay homebred has versatility in her running style, and if she breaks cleanly from the gate, then the four-year-old will track the pace from the second flight before ranging up into contention at the top of the lane. Regular rider Jose Ortiz will be on board once again. 

Two-time Grade 1 heroine #6 La Cara (10-1) does her best work when she’s rolling along on the front end, and I expect Christian Torres to send this one hard from the gate to secure the early edge on Saturday. By Street Sense, the Tracy Farmer homebred didn’t fire in her 2026 debut but has posted a trio of morning drills in the interim, and the filly has appeal to me at a nice price for Casse. 

The Dan Ward-conditioned #3 Majestic Oops (3-1) sports a nice 7-3-2-0 mark on the course and comes off a daylight win in the American Beauty S. on the oval at six panels in her 2026 bow. The Majestic Harbor six-year-old has run some very good races at middle distances like this in the past, and the Grade-1 placed mare has an upset chance with a top showing and a well-timed rider under Francisco Arrieta. 

I think that #5 Regaled (9-2) is a very nice mare in general, and the dark bay mare gets a top-three look in her yearly debut for trainer Whit Beckman. Third in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) in her penultimate run of 2025, the five-year-old is a one-run closer with a big turn of foot and will be attractive if the pace collapses in the stretch. The exotics contender will have regular pilot Joseph Ramos in the stirrups.