Champion Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) returned to the work tab Sunday morning at Oaklawn with a bullet half-mile work over a fast track for dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse.Nitrogen, under two-time Oaklawn riding champion Cristian Torres, was clocked in :46.40, fastest of 56 published works at the distance. Nitrogen was breezing for the first time since finishing third in Mar. 7 GII Azeri Stakes.Last year's champion 3-year-old filly remains on target for the Apr. 11 Apple Blossom Handicap.“Nitrogen looked like the old Nitrogen,” said assistant trainer Caden Arthur, who oversees Casse's Oaklawn division. “She galloped great down the lane. She looked like she was barely moving, but her time didn't really say that.”Clockers caught Nitrogen in :23.80 for her opening quarter-mile and galloping out five furlongs in :59.20 and six furlongs in 1:12.60. Torres was aboard Nitrogen for the first time.“Nice horse,” Torres said. “Makes it easier for me.”Torres has also been the regular rider at the meeting for stablemate Nerazurri (Protonico), who also breezed a half-mile Sunday morning in advance of a scheduled start in the Apple Blossom. Nerazurri, under exercise rider Autumn Lavertu, went in :48.40. Nerazurri galloped out five furlongs in 1:01..“Nerazurri went nice and easy out there,” Arthur said.In addition to a pair of victories in the Oaklawn Sports Overnight Stakes Jan. 1 and Trivista Overnight Stakes Feb. 27, Nerazurri finished second to Nitrogen in the GIII Bayakoa Stakes Feb. 7.Nitrogen and Nerazurri both breezed by themselves during the special 10-minute workers-only session following the surface renovation break. Arthur said Nitrogen and Nerazurri will have their final works for the Apple Blossom on Apr. 1.“More than likely, they'll go solo, five-eighths,” Arthur said. “We'll put a good time into them right there.”The Apple Blossom is a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, a race which Nitrogen finished second in last year.The post Mark Casse Duo Nitrogen, Nerazurri Ready for Apple Blossom appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.