Oaklawn Stakes Advance – Azeri Stakes (G2) 2026

Stakes Advance – $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2)
Compiled by Robert Yates

Contact: Chris Ho Vice President of Marketing

cho@oaklawn.com, 501-623-4411 ext. 4201

Thursday, Mar. 5, 2026

OP Stakes Race Preview – $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) – Saturday, March 7

No horse has swept Oaklawn’s three biggest two-turn races for older fillies and mares in the same year. Then again, no horse with Nitrogen’s resume has attempted it.

After successfully negotiating the first step, Nitrogen’s second comes in Saturday’s $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles. The Azeri, which drew a field of seven, is the final major local prep for Nitrogen’s major spring objective, the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 11.

The Azeri headlines an 11-race card that begins at 12:30 p.m. CST. Probable post time for the Azeri, the ninth race, is 4:44 p.m. Rain is likely Saturday, according to weather.com.

Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Nitrogen collected an Eclipse Award as North America’s champion 3-year-old filly of 2025 after winning six stakes races, including the Alabama (G1) at 1 ¼ miles Aug. 16 at Saratoga.

Nitrogen opened 2026 with a 2 ¾-length victory in the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 7 at Oaklawn. Nitrogen was making her first start since finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) at 1 1/8 miles Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Casse had debated whether to run Nitrogen in the Bayakoa or await the Azeri. She only had three published workouts in advance of the Bayakoa, the last a five-furlong bullet (1:00) Jan. 17 at Oaklawn. Oaklawn was subsequently closed for training for nine consecutive days (Jan. 24-Feb. 1) following a winter storm in late January.

Casse still pulled the trigger and Nitrogen delivered a workmanlike victory in the Bayakoa, her seventh in 13 starts overall, bumping her earnings to $2,192,854. Nitrogen has breezed once since the Bayakoa, a half-mile move in :49.60 Feb. 25.

“She doesn’t take a lot (to get ready), as you saw going into the last race,” Casse said. “I think, just watching her train, I think she’s training as good as ever, maybe better. She came out of that race and has thrived.”

Casse said he’s not concerned about an off track, particularly since Nitrogen won the off-the-turf Wonder Again Stakes (G3) last June at Saratoga by 17 lengths. The one-mile race was run over a sloppy surface.

“She ran as fast as they ran the Met Mile, so I’m not overly worried about it,” Casse said.

The Azeri field from the rail out: Perfect Shot, Erik Asmussen to ride, 121 pounds, 12-1 on the morning line; Nitrogen, Jose Ortiz, 121, 4-5; Majestic Oops, Francisco Arrieta, 119, 3-1; Quietside, Ramon Vazquez, 119, 15-1; Regaled, Joe Ramos, 119, 9-2; La Cara, Cristian Torres, 119, 10-1; and Standoutsensation, Luis Saez, 121, 12-1.

Casse also trains millionaire multiple Grade 1 winner La Cara, who looks to rebound from a fifth-place finish as the favorite in her 4-year-old debut, the Houston Ladies Classic (G3) Jan. 24 at Sam Houston Race Park. La Cara was facing older horses for the first time in the 1 1/16-mile race and racing over a sloppy surface, the latter contributing to her subpar performance, Casse said.

“I think La Cara’s going to give a good account of herself,” Casse said. “I think she’s going to run a big one. She was exhausted (in the Ladies Classic) and there was no reason for her to be exhausted.”

Majestic Oops returns to two turns after launching her 2026 campaign with a sharp 3 ¼-length victory in the six-furlong $150,000 American Beauty Stakes for older fillies and mares Feb. 13.

Trainer Dan Ward was originally targeting the six-furlong $250,000 Matron Stakes March 27. But co-owner Mark Martinez (Agave Racing Stable) also has an interest in Arkansas-bred star Haulin Ice, who is scheduled to make her next start in the Matron, and is looking to add a graded stakes victory to boost Majestic Oops’ broodmare value, Ward said.

Majestic Oops is a three-time Oaklawn winner. Two victories have been around two turns, including the one-mile $200,000 Dig a Diamond Stakes last April. Majestic Oops ran ninth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

“Nitrogen has great form,” Ward said. “You know it’s going to be tough, but our horse, when she runs good, she runs a few in a row good. When she wins, she keeps her form.”

Grade 3 winner Regaled will be making her 5-year-old debut for trainer Whit Beckman. Regaled finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, a half-length behind Nitrogen.

Quietside, a distant third in the Bayakoa, was a multiple graded stakes winner last year at Oaklawn for trainer John Ortiz.

Perfect Shot edged Standoutsensation by a half-length in the Houston Ladies Classic to give Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen his fifth consecutive victory in the race and seventh in the last eight years.

Standoutsensation returns to Oaklawn after winning its $150,000 Pippin Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Dec. 26. Trained by Tom Amoss, Standoutsensation has finished first or second in her last eight starts.

“She likes Oaklawn Park,” Amoss said. “She comes off a really nice race at Sam Houston.”