Immersive reeled in favored Quietside in deep stretch to score a one-and-a-quarter length victory in the G1 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday, 31 August.
As part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series, the two-year-old Nyquist filly was awarded $30,000 to apply toward entry fees for the $2 million G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar in November.
Immersive, who was making her Stakes debut in the seven-furlong contest, entered the race off a sharp, two-length win in her debut over the same strip in July. However, unlike the sunny skies and fast track that she had in her debut, the Spinaway was contested in a heavy downpour, with the main track listed as ‘good.’
The less-than-ideal conditions didn’t seem to faze Immersive, however, as she relaxed well for jockey Manny Franco as she raced in fifth, content to track the early pace set by Reliable Source and The Queens M G. Stuck behind a wall of horses entering the far turn, Franco tipped Immersive to the outside for a clear shot at the leaders. Rival Quietside got the first jump, though, and took over the lead and appeared to be on her way to victory. Immersive was under a sustained drive on the far outside, however, and was able to reel in Quietside nearing the wire to earn the victory.
Racing as a homebred for Godolphin, Immersive is out of Gap Year, a winning daughter of former Darley stalwart, Bernardini. Gap Year is a daughter of the multiple Graded Stakes winner, Dubai Escapade, winner of the G1 Ballerina, G2 Vinery Madison Stakes and G2 Vagrancy. The family also includes G1 winner Madcap Escapade, dam of fellow G1 winner, Mi Sueno.
Immersive is one of three G1 winners so far this year for her sire, Nyquist, joining Randomized (G1 Ogden Phipps) and Johannes (G1 Shoemaker Mile) on the 2024 honor roll. For his career thus far, Nyquist has sired six G1 winners including Vequist (Champion, G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, G1 Spinaway), Gretzky the Great (Champion, G1 Summer Stakes), and Slow Down Andy (G1 Awesome Again Stakes).
