Instagrand cruises to 101⁄4-length victory in Best Pal Stakes
By Art Wilson DEL MAR, CALIF » Before this weekend, there had been seven juvenile colts and fillies that had debuted in Southern California recently while opening some eyes with impressive performances.
None had come back to race again until Saturday’s $200,000 Grade II Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar, when the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Instagrand went postward against four other 2-yearolds as the overwhelming 1-9 favorite. Related Articles The son of Into Mischief, who debuted at Los Alamitos on June 29 with a scintillating 10-length victory, didn’t disappoint, either. He ran the others off their feet, cruising to a 10-¼-length victory under Drayden Van Dyke.
It was impressive enough that the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas lowered the 2019 Kentucky Derby Future Book odds on Instagrand to 15-1 — nine months before the race.
It was also impressive enough to have caught the attention of Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, who rode second-place finisher Sparky Ville.
“Don’t even ask me if I could see the winner,” he cracked.
Hollendorfer could, though, and the veteran trainer who has never won the Kentucky Derby was pleased by the improvement the $1.2 million yearling purchase showed in only his second start.
“I think it is an improvement in that he did it so much easier,” he said.
A couple of the colts acted up at the gate, delaying the start while Instagrand stood calmly in gate No. 1.
“I was a little bit worried,” Hollendorfer said. “Some of the colts were acting up, but then they got them in there. He broke good even though he had been standing in there a while. Then Drayden got this colt to relax, and he did his thing.”
Instagrand dueled 7-1 second choice Owning through fractions of 23, 46.54 and 58.17 in the 6-furlong race that serves as the major prep for the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity before taking command at the head of the stretch and gradually increasing his lead the rest of the way.
Sparky Ville rallied from fourth to grab second, 3-¼ lengths in front of 19-1 longshot Synthesis. Owning and Mason Dixon completed the order of finish.
Final time for the 6 furlongs was a very good 1:10.27 over a main track that has not been producing ultra-fast times during this 36-day summer meet. Instagrand ran the final quarter-mile in less than 24 seconds under only mild urging.
The winner was such an overwhelming favorite that there was a minus place pool of $572 and a minus show pool of $76,911. Of the $478,744 wagered to show in the race, $424,553 of it was bet on Instagrand.
Van Dyke, who rode Triple Crown winner Justify in his debut before Mike Smith took over for the final five races of the colt’s career, came away ultra-impressed.
“They told me he was ready,” he said. “Oh yeah. I just threw a couple of crosses at him today, that’s all. Cadillac. I wanted to see if he’d change leads on his own, but in the end I just gave it a little weight shift (to the inside) and he made a perfect change. He’s got the mind of a 4or 5-year-old. Professional.”
Hollendorfer said after the race that the Del Mar Futurity on closing day of the meet, Sept. 3, will probably be next for Instagrand.
With next weekend’s Grade I Pacific Classic perhaps missing some of the luster of recent years, this year’s Futurity could turn out to be the race of the meet if trainer Bob Baffert starts his budding standout, Roadster, as expected in the 7-furlong race.
And don’t forget, Hollendorfer also has another talented 2-year-old colt in his barn named Rowayton.
The victory was the second stakes victory of the meet and first in the Best Pal for Hollendorfer, who’s now won 33 stakes overall at Del Mar.
Van Dyke, who leads all riders with five stakes victories this meet, also won his first Best Pal Stakes and it was his 16th overall stakes win at Del Mar.