OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The sprinter Book’em Danno, who runs in Saturday’s Grade 2 Carter, is not the only champion making a comeback Saturday at Aqueduct.
Immersive, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2024, makes her 4-year-old debut in the Grade 3, $150,000 Distaff Stakes at seven furlongs. Immersive, a Godolphin homebred daughter of Nyquist who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at 2, has not raced since she won the Seneca at Churchill Downs last September, one of just three starts she had as a 3-year-old.
Trainer Brad Cox said shortly after that race, Immersive was not moving the way he liked so he shut her down and gave her the remainder of the year off. Immersive spent the winter at Cox’s base at Payson Park where she has worked seven times leading to her return.
Though Immersive has made her last five starts going two turns, Cox wanted to bring her back sprinting, something she did successfully at the start of her career, winning a six-furlong maiden and the Grade 1 Spinaway at seven furlongs as a 2-year-old. The Distaff is contested at seven furlongs.
“Just need to get a run into her,” Cox said. “The goal is to stretch her out. She obviously started her career [running] three-quarters and seven-eighths, won a Grade 1 going seven-eighths. It’s hard to find a race for a filly like her with her credentials.
“She’s doing great,” Cox added. “She looks unbelievable. We’ll see if she still wants to be a top-caliber horse.”
Originally, the Distaff drew an eight-horse field but as of Thursday was down to five runners. Takethemoneyhoney and Boutwell Time are expected to scratch to run in Saturday’s Heavenly Cause at Laurel Park.
With the Angels, likely the second choice coming off a 4 1/2-length victory in the Correction on March 1, will also scratch, trainer Linda Rice said.
“She’s a little out of the feed tub, didn’t feel like she was up to her best effort,” said Rice, who will now attempt to make the Grade 3, $175,000 Vagrancy on May 3.
Jody’s Pride is 3 for 3 on dirt at Aqueduct, all stakes victories. Her last victory came in the Grade 2 Ruffian going a one-turn mile here last May.
Grammy Girl, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., has three wins and three seconds from nine starts at Aqueduct. She hasn’t raced since winning the Willa On the Move at Laurel last Nov. 22, her 10th race of the season.
“It was an intended break. We ran her back in 10 days and she won that stake,” Joseph said. “It took her a while to come back around, but she’s coming around nicely. For some reason, she runs well at Aqueduct. She loves it there.”
Javier Castellano rides Grammy Girl from the outside.
Hold Your Breath was a front-running winner of the Garland of Roses at Aqueduct on Dec. 7 but finished last of six in an overnight handicap at Laurel on Jan. 17.
Lucille Ball has run two poor races since winning an allowance here on Jan. 2 by 10 1/4 lengths with a gaudy 102 Beyer Speed Figure.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.