Nitrogen To Skip Locust Grove At Churchill Due To Heat, Heads To Belmont

[Wandering Eyes]

With hot temperatures in Louisville's forecast, trainer Mark Casse has decided that champion Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) should skip the Sept. 12 running of the  GII Locust Grove Stakes at Churchill Downs and instead ship to Belmont Park. The news was first reported on X by David Grening of the Daily Racing Form.

Grening said in the post that several options were on the table, including either the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Sept. 18 or the GII Beldame Stakes Sept. 25–both at Belmont Park. Also under consideration is the GI Juddmonte Spinster Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 4.

Nitrogen's campaign at Saratoga this summer was marked by a victory in the GI Odgen Phipps Stakes June 5 and a runner-up finish in the GI Whitney Stakes Aug. 8.

The Whitney champ Sovereignty (Into Mischief) developed an abscess in his hind foot and was forced to miss his Saturday work. It is unknown at this point if the Horse of the Year will be out of the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

This story will be updated.

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