Immersive, La Cara face off in Coaching Club American Oaks

The $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) headlines a trio of graded stakes taking place on the second Saturday of the Saratoga summer meet.

Coaching Club American Oaks (G1)

The 109th running of this historic 1 1/8-mile race has attracted half a dozen three-year-old fillies to vie for prestige and a rich purse. The group is led by Immersive, the champion two-year-old filly of 2024, and La Cara, a star three-year-old with multiple Grade 1 wins under her belt.

Immersive and La Cara have met once before, finishing first and fifth in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). For Immersive, the Breeders’ Cup capped off a perfect 4-for-4 season that also included triumphs in the Alcibiades (G1) and Spinaway (G1). Unfortunately, bone bruising derailed the Brad Cox trainee from a winter campaign. She belatedly made her three-year-old debut in the Monomoy Girl S. at Churchill Downs last month, finishing second by a neck after a tricky trip.

“She’s doing very well,” Cox told the New York Racing Association. “She needed her last run in the Monomoy Girl. She ran a great race and galloped out well. I feel like she’s every bit as good this year as she was last year. I really think she’ll move forward off that run.”

In contrast, La Cara has been on a roll since the Breeders’ Cup. She’s nabbed three stakes this year for trainer Mark Casse, wiring the Acorn (G1), Ashland (G1), and Suncoast S. Her only poor showing came when tiring to finish ninth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) over a wet-fast track at Churchill Downs, but she rebounded over sloppy footing in the Acorn at Saratoga, romping by three lengths under jockey Dylan Davis.

“She likes her job and she loves to train,” said Casse. “She didn’t like the slop at Churchill Downs, but before her last race, Dylan said to me, ‘this is a different type of slop.’ She handled it great.”

Take Charge Milady, runner-up in the Ashland and triumphant over Immersive in the Monomoy Girl, adds depth to the Coaching Club American Oaks field. So too does Scottish Lassie, third in the Acorn and a nine-length winner of the Frizette (G1) last fall.

Completing the field are Sweet Seraphine and Dry Powder, separated by a head when running 1-2 in the Wilton S. at Aqueduct last month.

Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G2)

After holding Grade 1 status from 2010 through 2024, the Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G2) has been downgraded for its 2025 renewal. Nevertheless, the six-furlong dash for older horses has drawn a strong field.

Book’em Danno and Mullikin, the top two finishers from Saratoga’s 6 1/2-furlong True North (G3) last month, lead the charge. Both have enjoyed strong success over this track. Book’em Danno’s 2-for-3 tally at the Spa includes a win in the 2024 Woody Stephens (G1), while Mullikin took the Forego (G1) here last year.

Nakatomi and Skelly ran 1-2 in the 2024 Vanderbilt, but both need to rebound from recent defeats. Nakatomi struggled when fifth in the True North, and Skelly was last seen tiring to sixth place in the Aristides (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Baby Yoda dominated the 2024 True North when it carried Grade 2 status, winning by six lengths, and he recently shrugged off a losing streak to smash a 6 1/2-furlong $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Aqueduct in the track-record time of 1:13.86.

Tom Fool (G3) winner Full Moon Madness, 2024 Hot Springs S. conqueror Nash, and 2022 Saratoga Special (G2) victor Damon’s Mound complete the lineup.

Caress (G3)

Future Is Now is the most accomplished entrant in the $175,000 Caress (G3), a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares.

The Michael Trombetta trainee has won five of her last seven starts, all against stakes competition. Though she finished third by half a length in the 2024 Caress, she’s thoroughly proven her worth at the graded level with wins in the Intercontinental (G2), Franklin (G2), and Giant’s Causeway (G3).

A stiff challenge could come from Pipsy, who beat Future Is Now by a half-length when the latter was seeking to defend her Intercontinental title at Saratoga last month. Kairyu, Time to Dazzle, and Pandora’s Gift could also factor after running third through fifth in the Intercontinental, all within one length of Future Is Now.

Zeitlos is switching to turf after winning a bevy of dirt stakes, including the Thoroughbred Club of America (G2). Toupie and Twirling Queen have each won multiple stakes on grass and warrant respect. Obstreperous is stepping up in class after winning a 5 1/2-furlong grass allowance at Churchill Downs.

Halina’s Forte, Little Prankster, and the aptly named Caress are entered for the main track only.