Entering the final three furlongs of Saturday's GII Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis S., a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland on Oct. 31, it appeared that 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Shred The Gnar (Into Mischief) would win off. But second-choice Immersive (Nyquist) found a second wind coming into the final eighth of a mile to put away the odds-on favorite before holding off a late rally from Regaled (Mohaymen).
Off at 8-5 after trading around even-money for a good portion of the betting, the 2024 champion 2-year-old filly was ridden aggressively from gate two by Irad Ortiz, Jr., but Luis Saez was equally positive aboard Shred The Gnar and the two matched motors through a half in :47.08, putting eight to 10 lengths on Regaled in third.
Shred The Gnar looked to be going much the better of the top two and Ortiz, Jr. was very busy astride Immersive as they reached the top of the lane, but the chalk began to paddle a furlong from home, and Immersive kept on bravely as Regaled made a race of it late.
“She ran like the champion we know she is,” winning trainer Brad Cox said. “She really dug in late, was traveling well and responded well to Irad late to get by (Shred the Gnar) and then hold off (Regaled).”
Ortiz, Jr. added, “She got into a good rhythm on the lead and really fought hard to win today.”
After kicking off her career a perfect four-for-four, capped by a win in the 2024 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar, Immersive had posted just one win from five subsequent tries. She entered off a pair of second-place finishes in the GIII Distaff S. Apr. 4 and GII Shawnee S. May 30.
Pedigree Notes:
Immersive is one of 11 Grade I winners for Nyquist. She is bred on the same Nyquist x Bernardini cross as sensational GI Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan H. winner Nysos (Nyquist). Three-time winner Gap Year's most recent produce is the unraced 2-year-old filly Make Memories (Street Sense). Sheikh Mohammed's operation paid $2 million for Immersive's second dam, GI Ballerina Breeders' Cup S. winner Dubai Escapade, at the now-defunct 2004 Barretts Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training sale. This is also the extended female family of the very talented Madcap Escapade (Hennessy) and her GISW daughter Mi Sueno (Pulpit).
Immersive wins the 2026 @FasigTiptonCo Fleur de Lis Stakes! pic.twitter.com/LwD0KG1j8y
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) June 27, 2026
Saturday, Churchill Downs
FASIG-TIPTON FLEUR DE LIS S.-GII, $483,500, Churchill Downs, 6-27, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m, 1:50.51, sy.
1–IMMERSIVE, 119, f, 4, by Nyquist
1st Dam: Gap Year, by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Dubai Escapade, by Awesome Again
3rd Dam: Sassy Pants, by Saratoga Six
O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.. $308,500. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2-year-old filly, MGISW, 10-6-4-0, $2,262,400. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Regaled, 121, m, 5, Mohaymen–Ascot Walk, by Daaher.
($9,500 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $300,000 4yo '25 IGDMAY). O-Ribble Farms and Front Page Equestrian LLC; B-Chris Baccari (KY); T-D. Whitworth Beckman. $100,000.
3–Shred the Gnar, 124, f, 4, Into Mischief–Aspen Light, by Bernardini. ($610,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG). 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. O-Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing LLC; B-Camas Park Stud & Lynch Bages LTD. (KY); T-Brian A. Lynch. $50,000.
Margins: 3/4, 2 1/4, 4. Odds: 1.67, 4.84, 0.61.
Also Ran: In Just My Heels. Scratched: Splendora.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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