Shawnee Stakes Odds: Immersive, Splendora Top Field, Analysis, and Picks

There are seven fillies and mares ages 4 and up entered in Saturday’s $300,000 Shawnee Stakes (G3), one of six graded stakes races at Churchill Downs.

Two of the seven, 6-5 morning-line favorite Splendora and 7-2 third choice Immersive, have won Breeders’ Cup races and have a combined record of 12 wins, seven seconds in 21 starts.

Why are five others in the race?

First off, Bob Baffert-trained Splendora (2025 BC Filly & Mare Sprint winner) may not run in the 1 1/16-mile Shawnee Stakes. That would seem to give Immersive, the 2025 BC Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner, an edge, but she’s making just her second start in eight months.

Which may be why Major Oops, 2-for-3 in 2026 and making his first start for trainer Phil D’Amato, is the 3-1 second choice. Grade 1 winner Gin Gin is an appealing 6-1, although she finished a distant seventh in the Doubledogdare Stakes (G2) at Keeneland in her 5-year-old debut last month.

Baffert now has a stable at Churchill Downs and has two horses set to run in the Aristides Stakes (G3) on the undercard – Madaket Road and Cornucopian.

If Splendora runs, she’ll be ridden by Flavien Prat, who was aboard when the 5-year-old mare ran fourth in the Derby City Distaff (G1) on Derby Day in her most recent race.

Immersive

Trained by Brad Cox, she is looking to rebound after finishing second to Grammy Girl in the 7-furlong Distaff (G3) at Aqueduct in her 4-year-old debut in April. The champion 2-year-old filly has finished first or second in all eight career starts – five wins and three seconds. Her 3-year-old campaign was compromised by a bone bruise, although she ran second twice and won the Seneca Overnight Stakes at Churchill on Sept. 20.

With all those accolades, though, we’re looking for some value, and Gin Gin might be the winning tonic for trainer Brendan Walsh, who could have a huge day at Churchill with 10 entries on the 11-race card. He also sends out Miss Justify (12-1) in the Shawnee stakes and has three entered in the Regret Stakes (G3).

The Picks: 1 Gin Gin, 2 Immersive, 3 Majestic Oops

(If Splendora runs ... it’s 1 Gin Gin, 2 Splendora, 3 Immersive)

The Field for the $300,000 Shawnee Stakes (G3), from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:

1. Gin Gin (Luis Saez, Brendan Walsh), 6-1
2. Take Charge Omaha (Mario Gutierrez, Matthew Sims), 20-1
3. Miss Justify (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh), 12-1
4. Majestic Oops (Francisco Arrieta, Phil D'Amato), 3-1
5. Splendora (Flavien Prat, Bob Baffert), 6-5
6. Too Much Kiki (Jose Ortiz, Bret Calhoun), 15-1
7. Immersive (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Brad Cox), 7-2

US Racing Team

The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.