Godolphin had not won a graded stakes race for 2-year-olds in New York since 2019, when Lake Avenue claimed the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack. According to Equibase data going back to 2000, they had never secured a Grade 1 victory for juveniles at Saratoga Race Course—until their homebred filly, Immersive, changed that on August 31 by winning the $300,000 Spinaway Stakes (G1).

"We're thrilled to get a big win here at Saratoga," said Michael Banahan, Godolphin USA's director of bloodstock.

Immersive, ridden by Manuel Franco, started from the inside post on a muddy (sealed) track after heavy rain hit Saratoga. Franco kept her back in the pack during the early stages of the seven-furlong race. Coming out of the final turn, he guided her wide and she surged past the favored Quietside in the stretch, winning by 1 1/4 lengths. Quietside finished second, with Sherbini in third, followed by Strong State, The Queens M G, Reliable Source, Pondering, Salted, Tiz Purple, and Bellacose. Unfortunately, Slang was pulled up on the backstretch and left the track in an equine ambulance.

The Queens M G, expected to be the favorite after two dominant wins at Saratoga, including a nine-length victory in the Adirondack Stakes (G3) on August 4, was narrowly edged in the betting by Quietside. Immersive, however, paid $27.40 and completed the race in 1:25.31.

"The wet surface was an unknown for all of them," Banahan said. "We were disappointed with drawing the inside post and then the rain, but Manny gave her a great ride."

Trained by Brad Cox, Immersive is out of the Bernardini mare Gap Year and sired by Nyquist, who stood the 2024 season at Darley near Lexington for $85,000.

"Nyquist is one of our best young stallions," Banahan noted. "Gap Year was a solid race mare, and we always believed she had the potential to produce a graded winner. The combination of Bernardini and Nyquist/Uncle Mo has worked well, and we've always had high hopes for this filly. Her bloodlines are a strong mix."

As part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series, the Spinaway offers $30,000 to the winner, $15,000 to the runner-up, and $7,500 to the third-place finisher to apply toward entry fees for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) on November 1 at Del Mar.

"We're hoping that's where we'll go," Banahan said. "We'll see how she comes out of this race and what Brad thinks. We might run her again in the Alcibiades on October 4 at Keeneland to stretch her out a bit more, but today she showed us what she's capable of."