After Losing Her Undefeated Record in Her Return, Godolphin’s Champion Faces La Cara, Fresh off a Stunning Win in the Acorn Stakes (G1)
Immersive at Her Spinaway Victory in Saratoga / ADAM COGLIANESE / NYRA
SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York (Special for Turf Diario).- After making her comeback and suffering the first defeat of her career, champion Immersive will look to return to her winning ways this Saturday in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1, 9 furlongs, dirt, $500,000), one of America’s most historic summer targets for three-year-old fillies.
Bred in Kentucky by Godolphin and trained by Brad Cox, the daughter of Nyquist was crowned last season’s Champion Two-Year-Old Filly after an undefeated four-race campaign, highlighted by wins in the Spinaway Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, the Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar, all under Manny Franco, who retains the mount from the rail.
After an extended layoff to address a minor bone issue, Immersive returned on June 14 in the Monomoy Girl Stakes (L) at Churchill Downs. There, she showed her trademark grit, dueling down the lane with Take Charge Milady (Take Charge Indy) before missing by just a nose in 1:43.17 for 1 1/16 miles. “She needed that race. She came out of it well, galloped out strongly, and is ready to take a step forward. I feel she’s back to where she was last year,” said Cox, who has won this race twice before, with Monomoy Girl (Tapizar, 2018) and Wet Paint (Blame, 2023).
Out of Gap Year (Bernardini) and from the family of G1 winner Dubai Escapade (Awesome Again), Immersive has a record of 4 wins and a second from 5 starts, with earnings exceeding $1.6 million. Godolphin has a strong history in the Coaching Club American Oaks, winning previously with Jilbab (A.P. Indy, 2002), Music Note (A.P. Indy, 2008), It’s Tricky (Mineshaft, 2011), Questing (Hard Spun, 2012), and last year with Wet Paint.
Among her main rivals is G1 winner La Cara, bred by Tracy Farmer and trained by Mark Casse. The daughter of Street Sense arrives off an impressive victory in the Acorn Stakes (G1) over a sloppy track at this same distance and venue, where she dictated terms and drew clear by three lengths. Earlier in the year, she dominated the Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland before failing to fire on a wet-fast surface in the Kentucky Oaks (G1).
“She loves her job and trains with real enthusiasm,” said Casse. “Dylan [Davis] told me the mud at Belmont was different than Churchill’s, and he was right—she handled it perfectly.” With a record of 5 wins and 2 seconds from 11 starts and over $1.1 million in earnings, La Cara is from a strong female line, being out of a Bernardini mare and a granddaughter of Bernardini, making her a niece of G1 winners To Honor and Serve and Angela Renee.
Also in the field is Scottish Lassie, trained by Jorge Abreu and to be ridden by Joel Rosario. The daughter of McKinzie captured the Frizette Stakes (G1) at Belmont impressively in her second career start but has not won since. She was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup and has two thirds this season, including her most recent effort behind La Cara in the Acorn. “She’s doing really well and ready to run a big one. She might have tired late last time, but I really like how she’s coming into this race,” Abreu said.
Take Charge Milady will also be a strong contender. Trained by Kenny McPeek, she seeks to follow in the footsteps of last year’s Coaching Club American Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna), another undefeated champion under McPeek’s care. Take Charge Milady comes off her narrow victory over Immersive in the Monomoy Girl and will be ridden by Kendrick Carmouche from post 4. Winner of the Martha Washington Stakes (L) in January, she has three wins and two seconds from eight starts and was a $60,000 purchase by James Ball, Magdalena Racing, and Kenneth Rhodes.
Another filly on the rise is Sweet Seraphine, trained by Cherie DeVaux for Stonehaven Steadings. The daughter of Quality Road will break from post 2 under José Ortiz after winning the Wilton Stakes (L) at Belmont by a nose. Prior to that, she broke her maiden in her second start of the year following a layoff of more than nine months. “She’s well-bred and we know she needs to keep improving to be competitive at this level, but if she can hit the board, we’ll be very happy,” DeVaux said.
Completing the field is Dry Powder, trained by Chad Summers. Runner-up in the Wilton, the daughter of Gun Runner will have José Lezcano aboard from gate 5. A $525,000 Keeneland purchase for Gold Square, she debuted a winner and has since recorded two stakes placings, always showing good action.