Some of the oxygen came out of the $400,000 Locust Grove Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs when a heat wave prevented champion and multiple grade 1 winner Nitrogen from shipping to Kentucky from New York.
Nitrogen will find another opportunity in New York or later at Keeneland, but in the meantime plenty of firepower remains in the Locust Grove with grade 1 winner and five-time graded stakes winner Splendora set to face multiple grade 1 winner Immersive.
Boyd Racing and By Talla Racing's Splendora last met Godolphin homebred Immersive in the May 30 Shawnee Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, where Splendora won by 2 3/4 lengths and Immersive ran a game second after getting bumped at the break and racing wide throughout.
Both fillies have been remarkably consistent throughout their careers with Splendora sporting a 9-4-0 record from 15 starts, and Immersive with a 6-4-0 record from 10 starts.
A 5-year-old daughter of Audible trained by Bob Baffert, Splendora is the 3-5 morning-line favorite and is the highweight at 125 pounds. Last out she won by 5 1/2 lengths in the July 18 Molly Pitcher Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles, which is the same distance as the Locust Grove. She will be ridden from post 1 by Flavien Prat, who was aboard for her last two wins.
Immersive, a daughter of Darley Stallions' Nyquist , will be making her first start since winning the June 27 Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, which she captured by three-quarters of a length. With trainer Brad Cox, the Fleur de Lis was her first graded win since her juvenile campaign that produced three grade 1 victories, including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). She was named champion 2-year-old filly for 2024. The 4-year-old filly will be ridden from post 4 by Luis Saez and carry 123 pounds.
The Locust Grove field also includes multiple grade 1-placed, grade 3 winner Simply Joking. However, the Santa Maria Stakes (G3) winner is cross-entered in the Princess Rooney Stakes (G3) the same day at Gulfstream Park and will reportedly race there instead, according to Daily Racing Form.
The Sept. 12 Churchill Downs card includes two $300,000 listed black-type stakes: the Open Mind Stakes going 6 furlongs, and the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs.
Usha, winner of last year's La Brea Stakes (G1) and this year's Winning Colors Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the Open Mind Stakes. The 4-year-old Tiz the Law filly is raced by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman with Baffert. She will be ridden by Prat.
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' grade 2 winner Built is the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes, coming into the race off a win in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes (G2). The 4-year-old son of Hard Spun is trained by Wayne Catalano. He also will be ridden by Prat.
Churchill Downs, Saturday, September 12, 2026, Race 9Entries: Fasig-Tipton Locust Grove S. (G2)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Splendora (MD) Flavien Prat 125 Bob Baffert 3/5 2 2Simply Joking (PA) Juan J. Hernandez 123 Michael W. McCarthy 6/1 3 3Yes It Tiz (KY) Florent Geroux 121 Brad H. Cox 5/1 4 4Immersive (KY) Luis Saez 123 Brad H. Cox 3/1 5 5Miss Authentic (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 121 Eddie Kenneally 20/1 6 6Chilled (KY) Mario Gutierrez 121 Victoria H. Oliver 30/1
Churchill Downs, Saturday, September 12, 2026, Race 6Entries: Open Mind S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Usha (NY) Flavien Prat 122 Bob Baffert 5/2 2 2Cash Call (KY) Florent Geroux 120 Bob Baffert 7/2 3 3Look Forward (KY) Juan J. Hernandez 120 Michael W. McCarthy 3/1 4 4Flat Out Time (KY) Axel Concepcion 120 George Weaver 15/1 5 5Benedetta (KY) Keith J. Asmussen 120 Steven M. Asmussen 8/1 6 6Asternia (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 120 Randy L. Morse 12/1 7 7Modo (TX) Luis Saez 120 Kinnon LaRose 3/1
Churchill Downs, Saturday, September 12, 2026, Race 7Entries: Louisville Thoroughbred Society S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Harrodsburg (KY) Luis Saez 121 Michael A. Tomlinson 3/1 2 2Here Mi Song (KY) Edgar Morales 121 William Stinson, Jr. 12/1 3 3Jack's Promise (KY) Martin Garcia 121 Dale L. Romans 10/1 4 4Cat On Time (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 121 David Jacobson 9/2 5 5Built (KY) Flavien Prat 123 Wayne M. Catalano 6/5 6 6Echo Again (KY) Jaime A. Torres 121 Jordan Blair 20/1 7 7Dreaminblue (KY) Rafael Bejarano 121 Randy L. Morse 8/1 8 8Keep It Easy (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 121 Dale L. Romans 12/1
