Immersive found a second wind coming into the final furlong to battle back and retake the lead from Shred the Gnar on her way to gutting out a three-quarter length victory in the $500,000 G2 Fleur de Lis Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday, June 27.
The victory earned the four-year-old daughter of Nyquist an automatic berth in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff this October as it’s part of the ‘Win and You’re In’ Series sponsored by the Breeders’ Cup.
Immersive was ridden aggressively out of the starting gate by Irad Ortiz Jr., but Luis Saez was equally positive aboard Shred the Gnar and the two matched strides through the opening half-mile in :47.08, putting eight to 10 lengths on Regaled in third.
Shred The Gnar looked to be going much the better of the pair and Ortiz had to get to work aboard Immersive as they reached the top of the lane, but the chalk began to weaken in deep stretch. Immersive battled back to regain the lead, then kept on bravely as Regaled closed swiftly on the outside to take second.
Final time for the nine furlongs on a drying-out strip was 1:50.51.
Bred in Kentucky by Godolphin, Immersive is out of Gap Year, a winning daughter of former Darley stalwart, Bernardini. Gap Year is a daughter of the multiple Graded Stakes winner, Dubai Escapade, winner of the G1 Ballerina, G2 Vinery Madison Stakes and G2 Vagrancy. The family also includes G1 winner Madcap Escapade, dam of fellow G1 winner, Mi Sueno.
Nyquist now has 10 Stakes winners to his credit this year, including Graded Stakes winners Nysos (G1 Met Mile), Knightsbridge (a three-time Graded Stakes winner in 2026), Growth Equity (G3 Peter Pan), Iron Honor (G3 Gotham Stakes), and David of Athens (G3 Jebel Ali Mile).
