Expensive juvenile Instagrand set for debut Friday

Instagrand has never started in a race, but he certainly attracts attention.

The 2-year-old sold for a season-high $1.2 million in March, dazzled with fast works in May and June, and will be a wagering focus in his career debut Friday at Los Alamitos.

“We think he’s a pretty good colt,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. “He covers a lot of ground, and we think he’s pretty fast.”

Fast enough to win first time out at five furlongs? Hollendorfer hinted that he is. Instagrand faces six rivals Friday in race 3, a maiden special weight that includes first-time starters Pullfromthecloud, Dark Prince, and No Treble.

As usual, Instagrand is the center of attention. After he breezed a furlong in 10 seconds at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale, Larry Best purchased him for $1.2 million. Along with two others, the sale price is the highest of 2018 for a 2-year-old in North America.

Hollendorfer and Best, whose stable is OXO Equine, have been here before with a high-ticket 2-year-old. Instilled Regard, purchased for $1.05 million in 2017, won a Grade 3, placed in a Grade 1, and finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby before he was transferred to Chad Brown.

Although the top California 2-year-olds typically wait for Del Mar, where special-weight purses are $60,000 compared to $40,000 at Los Alamitos, Instagrand could wait no more.

“He’s ready to run,” Hollendorfer said. “We wanted to run him when he’s ready and not wait.”

Four of the colt’s last six works were gate works, including a best-of-the-morning five-furlong breeze in 59.20 seconds at Los Alamitos last Friday. Why so many works from the gate? Simple, Hollendorfer explained: “We’re making sure he’s gate ready.”

The feature on Friday is race 7, a first-level allowance/optional $20,000 claiming sprint for statebred fillies and mares, which Princess Kendra is spotted to upset. But most of the attention Friday at Los Alamitos is on Instagrand in race 3.

Race 3

KEY CONTENDERS

Instagrand, by Into Mischief

◗ An early-season debut is not unusual for a high-profile Hollendorfer 2-year-old. In 2016, Unique Bella made her career debut on June 23. She finished second at 3-10.

◗ The other $1.2 million 2-year-olds are Lebron J, a Medaglia d’Oro colt whose first recorded work for trainer Doug O’Neill was Monday at Santa Anita, and an unnamed Medaglia d’Oro filly owned by Stonestreet Stables.

Pullfromthecloud, by Shakin It Up

◗ Peter Miller trains the 2-year-old, whose first-crop sire has two winners from his first four starters. Pullfromthecloud was purchased in April for $135,000.

Dark Prince, by Cairo Prince

◗ Bob Baffert’s first 2-year-old starter of the season, Dark Prince was purchased as a yearling for $200,000.