October 3, 2024
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
Terrific Twos
Immersive’s imperviousness to the dreaded ‘terrible twos’ has been a marvel for ownership group Godolphin, whose homebred filly is off to a perfect 2-0-0 start to her racing career.
Fresh off a scrappy score in the Spinaway (G1) on Aug. 31 at Saratoga, the dynamic youngster heads south to Keeneland for a shot at the $600,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) on Friday afternoon.
Although the sample size is small, Immersive has done nothing but impress in the early going.
The Brad Cox trainee defied the odds not once, but twice, delivering at 10-1 and 12-1 in her first two starts, respectively.
Immersive will now have to contend high expectations, as the 2-1 opening line favourite in the Darley Alcibiades.
Hold Your Ground
Outside of a pesky fifth in the Poker (G3T) on Jun. 8, Carl Spackler (IRE) has been lights out in 2024.
Through four starts on the current campaign, the 4-year-old colt has found the winner’s circle three times (Opening Verse Stakes, Grade 3 Kelso, and most recently, the Grade 1 Fourstardave).
Come this Saturday at Keeneland, eight other hopefuls will try to keep ground with Carl Spackler in the $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1T).
The field will be hard-pressed to do so, as the multiple graded stakes winner is fresh off posting his highest ever speed figures (114 in both the Kelso and Fourstar Dave).
Carl Spackler enters at 2-1.
What’s the Word
Following a sizzling 7 ¾-length triumph in her professional debut, Senza Parole is the talk of the town ahead of Saturday’s $400,000 Frizette (G1) at Aqueduct.
After just one start, the 2-year-old filly proved she was ready for a promotion. And it’s easy to understand why.
Leaving from post two, Senza Parole battled showed a promising blend of power and speed, battling through tight quarters to create a lane and easily separate from the pack.
The Irad Ortiz Jr. mount will stretch out from six furlongs to one mile for the Frizette, but the 3-5 opening line favourite appears more than up for the challenge.
McTriple
Nine other 2-year-olds stand between Chancer McPatrick and a perfect three-for-three start to his career.
The Flavien Prat mount will need to keep the nonet??? at bay in Saturday afternoon’s $500,000 Champagne (G1) in order to keep the streak alive.
It’s been a banner beginning for the Flavien Prat mount, who after scoring in his maiden voyage on Jul. 27 immediately climbed to the highest-level and claimed the top spot in the $300,000 Hopeful (G1).
Chancer McPatrick’s next test comes at the one-mile range, following the pair of successful trips at six and seven furlongs, respectively.
Oddsmakers like the colt’s chances, listing him as the 6-5 opening line choice.
Like Father, Like Son
McKinzie Street, the son of multiple graded stakes winner McKinzie, looked a lot like his pops in his first career start.
The 2-year-old colt outshined his contemporaries with an impressive 3 ½-length victory on Jul. 28 at Del Mar.
Although the younger McKinzie couldn’t lock down his first attempt at the graded level last time out (second in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity), he returns to Del Mar this Saturday with an opportunity to break through in the $300,000 (G1) American Pharoah.
Contending with the bold Bob Baffert-trained trio of Citizen Bull, Emerald Bay, and Getaway Car will be a challenge, but the payoff – a guaranteed entry into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) – makes it all worthwhile.
