The Belmont Stakes undercard on Saturday, June 7 contains a fascinating rematch between Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf second and third May Day Ready and Nitrogen in the Grade II Wonder Again Stakes of 2025.
With $300,000 in the prize purse and an extended mile before them, this pair start the graded race action on the Belmont Stakes day schedule with a bang. Eight three-year-old fillies line-up, but the standout form belongs to the two making the show behind Lake Victoria at Del Mar in the fall.
Nitrogen has quickly notched four consecutive wins for Mark Casse this season. This daughter of Medaglia d’Oro picked up a Listed prize and then the Florida Oaks when wintering on the West Coast.
She then scored twice at this level in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, first in the Appalachian Stakes around Keeneland and then the Edgewood Stakes during the Derby meet at Churchill Downs. It’s no wonder, then, that Nitrogen is a strong favorite on Belmont Stakes betting sites for the Wonder Again Stakes in 2025.
Not only is she proven in this grade, she’s a filly in form. Casse also runs Bessie Abbot for Team Valor, but there’s no doubt who the barn’s leading contender is here. And yet, May Day Ready beat Nitrogen by a length at the Breeders’ Cup.
With Lake Victoria landing the Irish 1000 Guineas on home turf, that Del Mar form commands respect. What Joseph Lee’s May Day Ready lacks is a recent run. This is her return to action and she might need it. The Tapit filly is a course and distance winner around Saratoga from last season, however, so she likes the track.
Laurelin Has More Upside Than Trio from Brown Barn
Local trainer Chad Brown has won the race in each of the last three seasons and six times since its addition to the Belmont program in 2014. He has three of the eight fillies in the Wonder Again Stakes of 2025 with French import Al Jafara most favored on the Morning Line.
Brown pitches the daughter of Pinatubo into graded company after her allowance race victory over Bessie Abbot at Keeneland. Opulent Restraint, meanwhile, could only manage fourth to Nitrogen in the Florida Oaks this spring and needs improvement on that evidence.
Completing Brown’s trio in the line-up is Virgin Colada, who has run well at the Upstate New York track in the past. Despite that, she didn’t fire at the Breeders’ Cup and finished third behind barn buddy Opulent Restraint last time. Getting the better of both of those in a Listed race around Aqueduct was Laurelin.
Graham Motion’s Zarak filly has won all three career starts so far. After Black Type and Listed victories, a graded race like the Wonder Again Stakes in 2025 is the next logical step for Laurelin. With nothing to fear from Brown’s re-opposing pair, she also receives weight from the big guns here.
Completing the field is George Arnold longshot Love You Anyway. This demands so much more than a Keeneland maiden with some serious fillies who should be competing at the top level in mile races on grass in the line-up. It’s a great way to kick off America’s day at the races.
Wonder Again Stakes 2025 Post Positions & Morning Line Odds
- Al Jafara (118lbs) – 6-1 SCRATCHED
- May Day Ready (123lbs) – 9-2
- Bessie Abbot (118lbs) – 20-1
- Virgin Colada (118lbs) – 10-1 SCRATCHED
- Opulent Restraint (120lbs) – 8-1 SCRATCHED
- Nitrogen (123lbs) – Evs fav
- Love You Anyway (118lbs) – 20-1 SCRATCHED
- Laurelin (120lbs) – 5-1 SCRATCHED
Our Handicapper’s Win Place Show Bets for Wonder Again Stakes 2025
Win: Nitrogen
Place: May Day Ready (ATB)
Show: Laurelin SCRATCHED
WATCH: May Day Ready & Nitrogen at the Breeders’ Cup
