by JOHN MUCCIOLO
When the gavel went down at $1.05 million for a two-year-old son of Arch at the 2017 OBS March sale, one can imagine the dreams that were “instilled” by the new owners. Youngster was the fourth foal out of a winning dam but none were winners — hardly the catalog page at first glance that would merit a million-dollar purchase (though we will expand on that later).
But the Kentucky-bred sped two furlongs in a sizzling :20 4/5 during the under-tack show and obviously looked the part in doing so. Fast forward to current day and I think we could all see why this attractive colt brought seven figures.
Second at first asking and third second-time out, Instilled Regard has vaulted forward in a fine way since stretching out to route racing, with a pair of wins and a Grade 1-placing. His victory in Saturday’s Lecomte S. (G3) at Fair Grounds was most impressive to me and the Triple Crown prospect is getting good at the right time. After registering a 100 BRIS Speed rating in his previous start, the dark bay registered a solid 96 figure in the Lecomte and there appears to be obvious room for improvement.
Conditioned by Jerry Hollendorfer, Instilled Regard put himself right into the race in New Orleans and was never seriously challenged en route to a daylight score with Javier Castellano up for the initial time. California invader proved capable of shipping and performing at his best, and he didn’t look a bit tired through the wire suggesting more ground will not be an obstacle.
Enhancing, Instilled Regard’s first dam, was nothing special on the racetrack but is from a powerful Phipps family with greatness throughout the pedigree. Mare was produced from eight-time Grade 1-winning champion Heavenly Prize and is a three-quarters sister to sires Good Reward and Pure Prize.
Instilled Regard proved his class and gameness when racing between runners and never giving way in the December 9 Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) and turned in a complete performance to prove best over a solid field at Fair Grounds.
A fine pedigree, the ability to ship with success, a versatile running style, a Hall-of-Fame trainer who is surely due for a win on the biggest stage, and the reigning four-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey – Instilled Regard looks like a Kentucky Derby horse to me!
