G1 plunge pays handsome dividends for Immersive in Spinaway Stakes

Immersive announced herself as one of North America’s top juvenile fillies with a storming victory in the G1 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday, 31 August. 

Stepping up on the back of a debut success at the same course in July, the Brad Cox-trained daughter of Nyquist was rousted by Manny Franco from her inside draw to track the leading trio of Reliable Source, Tiz Purple and The Queens M G. 

Quietside took closer order around the field after the first quarter-mile, joining the front three in a battle for the lead three furlongs out. Immersive continued to stalk the pace and charted a wide course turning in, taking fourth from a fading Tiz Purple at the top of the straight. 

The Godolphin homebred stayed on strongly to go second from The Queens M G and Reliable Source approaching the final furlong and hit the line full of running, sweeping by Quietside close home for a length and a quarter success on a muddy track. 

Brad Cox said: “Immersive is a good filly. I think that she will go long, but she has enough speed to put herself in the race and she just keeps coming. Manny did a good job in getting a good early position, tracking that four-wide wall of horses in front of him. 

“She kept coming, with a good gallop out, and we are very excited about her. I thought that she was up against it today post-wise, but Manny overcame it, and she is a beautiful physical. She has a great stride, and I think the best is yet to come.”

Manny Franco added: “Immersive was ready for today. I have been working her since she won on her first start, and I have been really pleased with her. I’m happy to get this victory for connections, who have been helping me a lot, so I want to say thank you to them. 

“I went a bit forward as I didn’t want to be too far back on a sealed track. I wanted to be in the second flight, and she took me into the race nicely. When I asked her, she was coming and coming, so I knew that I could get there.”