TDN RISING STARS

July 21, 2018 - Saratoga, Race 6, Msw, USD $85,000, 5 1/2F, .0000

Nitrous, c, 2, 2016 by Tapit

1st Dam: Speedinthruthecity (MSW & MGSP, $402,751), by City Zip
2nd Dam: License to Speed, by Thunder Gulch
3rd Dam: Cadillac Women, by Carr de Naskra

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Stonestreet Stables LLC
Breeder: Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC
Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Nitrous, a well-bet narrow second debuting last month at Churchill behind GIII Sanford S. runner-up Strike Silver (Violence), found no such rival Saturday at Saratoga, shaking off some early pace pressure and rolling clear in the stretch to earn ‘TDN Rising Star’ honors.

Off a bit awkwardly at 11-10 under the Twin Spires June 14, the gray Ron Winchell homebred finished full of run, getting his last furlong in :11.53, only to come up a neck short on the line. Pounded down to 85 cents on the dollar to go one better here, he broke much sharper this time and soon established command. Pushed through a :22 flat quarter, the favorite cut the corner and shook loose into the stretch. Puttheglassdown (Violence), who skimmed the rail while advancing on the turn and tipped out at the top of the stretch, came to call three sixteenths from home, but couldn’t go with the winner, who drew clear to score powerfully by 3 1/4 lengths. Puttheglassdown was easily second-best.

Nitrous is the first foal out of Speedinthruthecity, a multiple stakes winner in the Winchell maroon and white who was fourth in the GII Honorable Miss S. and third in the Smart N Fancy S. at this oval four summers ago. She produced his full-sister in 2017 and was bred back to Tapit once more this spring.