Lake Victoria wins Juvenile Fillies Turf; Magnum Force takes Juvenile Turf Spint
Undefeated Immersive made it 4-for-4 and re-cemented her never-in-doubt year-end championship honors on Friday as she swept to a 4 1/2-length victory over Vodka With a Twist in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar.
Immersive Earns 2025 Kentucky Oaks Qualifying Points with Impressive Performance
Taking advantage of blistering early fractions of 22.00 and 44.99 seconds set by Nooni, jockey Manny Franco kept the bay daughter of Nyquist settled in fourth before turning her loose in the stretch. The Godolphin filly responded eagerly, taking command at the eighth pole and quickly drawing off to hit the wire in 1:44.36 for the 1 1/16-mile race.
Already the leading money-winner among the nine starters, Immersive earned $1.04 million with her third straight Grade 1 score to boost her bankroll to $1,622,700.
Godolphin, the leading money-winning owner going into the race, exited it with a total of $30.44 million earned.
Immersive, out of the Bernardini mare Gap Year, broke her maiden at odds of 10-1 on July 21 at Saratoga. She annexed the track’s Spinaway at odds of 12-1 on Aug. 31 and next took the Alcibiades – as the favorite – on Oct. 4 at Keeneland.
“She’s a special filly,” said trainer Brad Cox, who also trained 2019’s Juvenile Filly champion British Idiom. “Three Grade 1s at age 2? She’s probably the best 2-year-old filly I’ve had.”
The 2-1 favorite, Immersive returned $6 for a $2 win bet.
“I knew they were cooking in front of me,” said Franco, whose previous Breeders’ Cup winner was in 2019 with Sharing in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. “She’s great. She wanted to go all day.”
Following her and Vodka With a Twist under the wire were Quickick, Scottish Lassie, La Cara, Nooni, Otomena Shaco, Snowyte and American Bikini.
With the win Immersive earned 30 qualifying points to the 2025 Kentucky Oaks (G1). The next four finishers earned 15-9-6-3 points, respectively.
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Turf (G1): Lake Victoria
Ryan Moore, the world’s top-rated jockey, guided undefeated filly Lake Victoria ($3.40) through a rugged trip and then cruised to the lead in the stretch for a 1 ½-length victory over May Day Ready.
Sent off as the 7-10 favorite in the field of 13, the Ireland bred trained by Aidan O’Brien was pinched into the rail on the first turn by Totally Justified (Manny Franco aboard), dropped back in the pack, bided his time, and weaved his way through for the impressive win.
For Moore, it was his 15th BC win; for O’Brien it was his 19th BC win. On Saturday, City of Troy will try to give O’Brien his first Breeders’ Cup Classic win (he’s 0-for-17) with Moore aboard.
“He was crowded in the first bend, and it was his first time on a turn track,’’ noted O’Brien, adding, “but he’s now won three Grade 1s.”
Nitrogen was third, followed by Fiery Lucy, Kilwin, Vixen, Correto, Totally Justified, Anshoda, Heavens, Scythian, Virgin Coloda, Abientot.
Winning time for the mile of turf was 1:34.28.
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1): Magnum Force
The opening race of the Breeders’ Cup produced an upset as 12-1 Ireland bred Magnum Force came through in the stretch to beat fellow longshot Arizona Blaze (27-1) in the 5-furlong sprint.
Governor Sam took the lead out of the gate and led the 12-horse field into the stretch before several challengers moved alongside as jockey Colin Keane urged on his colt to a half-length victory.
Magnum Force returned $27 on a $2 win bet and covered the 5 furlongs in 56.36 seconds over a firm turf course.
This was just the seventh running of the Juvenile Turf Sprint, and the fourth straight win for an Ireland bred.
Trained by Ger Lyon, Magnum Force came into the race with just one victory in four starts. With the win, the bay son of Mehmas improved to 5-2-2-1 and ballooned his earnings to $579,672 from $59,672 for owner Abdulla Al Khalifa.
Governor Sam was third, followed by Big Mojo, Whistlejacket, Aesterius, Ides of March, Japan-bred favorite Ecoro Sieg, Jet Sweep Joe, Gate to Wire, Pali Kitten, and Shareholder.