Few house owners and breeders have been extra profitable in North American racing than Godolphin, particularly in recent times. Since 2021, the worldwide racing and breeding operation has netted six Eclipse Awards for main proprietor and breeder, 9 Breeders’ Cup wins, and a traditional win within the 2021 Belmont Stakes (G1) with Important High quality.
But yr after yr, one race appeared to elude them: the Alcibiades (G1), the celebrated opening-day characteristic at Keeneland, sponsored since 2003 by Darley, the Thoroughbred stallion division of Godolphin.
Now, even that race has Godolphin’s title in its stake-winning historical past. On Oct. 4, their gifted homebred 2-year-old filly Immersive ended the winless spell within the 1 1/16-mile, $600,000 contest, defeating Quickick by 1/4 lengths, with present finisher Quietside one other two lengths again in third. The victory improved Immersive to 3-for-3 following a maiden victory and a overcome Quietside within the Spinaway Stakes (G1), each at Saratoga Race Course over the summer season.
All the time nicely positioned after breaking from the skin publish below Manny Franco, Immersive stalked Wealthy Metropolis Lady and Liam within the Mud via fractions of :23.01, :46.89 and 1:11.26 earlier than taking command within the stretch. She appeared to lose focus down the lane, and a rallying Quickkick loomed a hazard.
“I believed was gonna catch her,” Quickick’s jockey informed her coach, Tom Amoss, after the race.
However regardless of a last sixteenth in a sluggish :07.14, Immersive, a bay Nyquist  filly, remained in entrance, finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.64. She paid $5.34 to win.
“We wished to go farther along with her since she gained first day out, and at present she proved that she wished to go the space,” Franco stated.
Profitable coach Brad Cox appeared happy to have gained for Godolphin and Darley, an essential consumer for his steady, noting with a smile that he heard about their previous winless mark from Godolphin representatives in a good-natured means. He had gained the race twice earlier than for different house owners.
“After they have been loading the horses, I noticed all of the assistant starters have been in Darley jackets, I did not know if that was good luck or dangerous luck,” he stated. “Nevertheless it was good luck at present.”
As a part of the Breeders’ Cup Problem Sequence: Win and You are In, Immersive earned an automated, paid berth within the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar. Moreover, the highest 5 finishers earn qualifying factors to the 2025 Kentucky Oaks (G1) on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale.
5 Alcibiades winners have repeated within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies: British Idiom (2019), Countess Diana (1997), Eliza (1992), Silverbulletday (1998), and Marvel Wheel (2022)—all of whom have been later honored as champions. Final yr’s winner, Candied , completed third within the 2023 Juvenile Fillies with a troubled journey.
Requested if he felt Immersive may head west to Southern California and win the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Fillies, as British Idiom did at Santa Anita Park 5 years in the past, Cox responded, “I positive hope so. This can be a very gifted filly.”
Amoss stated the Breeders’ Cup could be thought of for Quickick if she comes out of the race nicely, and John Ortiz appeared open to the chance for Quietside, who was farther off the tempo than anticipated when fifth early.
Bred in Kentucky, Immersive is the second winner from as many foals to race out of the Bernardini mare Hole 12 months .
Nyquist, who stood this previous breeding season for $85,000 at Darley, is the sire of 4 grade 1 winners this yr. Moreover Immersive, they embrace Tenma , Randomized , and Johannes .
