Champion Nitrogen is set to return to racing Friday at Belmont Park in the Grade 2 Beldame Stakes, a $250,000 test that carries added importance on the road to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
The Beldame is contested at 1 1/8 miles on dirt for fillies and mares. Nitrogen will break from post 4 with Jose Ortiz aboard for trainer Mark Casse. The four year old has not raced since finishing second to Sovereignty in the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga on August 8.
A Breeders’ Cup focused return
Nitrogen’s connections have made the Breeders’ Cup the central objective of her campaign. The Beldame offers a logical return to competition against fillies and mares before the Breeders’ Cup championships at Keeneland in October.
She enters the race after a season that included a dominant Grade 1 Ogden Phipps victory at Saratoga. Her Whitney performance also showed that she could compete effectively against leading older males. Nitrogen has won eight of 17 career starts and has finished in the top three in every start.
The Beldame is part of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen program. An eligible winner can receive a $30,000 credit toward Breeders’ Cup Distaff entry fees, while the second and third finishers can receive smaller credits.
Five horse field offers different challenges
Chad Brown sends out Lost Horizon and Donor Advised. Lost Horizon finished second in the Grade 2 Molly Pitcher at Monmouth Park in July, while Donor Advised enters her stakes debut after an allowance victory at Saratoga.
Boutwell Time brings a four race winning streak into her graded stakes debut. Lika Rolling Stone completes the five horse field.
Nitrogen has already worked over the new Belmont Park main track, completing a half mile in 49.62 seconds on September 12. Her familiarity with the surface gives Casse another useful piece of preparation before Friday.
What the Beldame means for the Distaff
The race gives Nitrogen an opportunity to sharpen her form without facing males again before the Breeders’ Cup. Her previous Distaff experience is also significant. She finished second in the race last season before earning championship honors.
Friday’s Beldame is Race 2 on Belmont Park’s nine race card. First post for the program is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
OTB Bet will continue tracking Nitrogen and the developing Breeders’ Cup Distaff picture as the championship races at Keeneland approach.
Sources: New York Racing Association race advance and Belmont Park stakes schedule. Race information and plans are current as of September 20, 2026.
