Insta Erma wins first stakes in Swingtime

ARCADIA, Calif. – What Insta Erma could not accomplish in the last year at Belmont Park, Aqueduct, Gulfstream Park, Canterbury Park, or Del Mar, she finally achieved at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Insta Erma won her first stakes in the $75,035 Swingtime Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf.

The win was well-earned. Ridden by Corey Nakatani, Insta Erma ($8) closed from third in the final furlong to win by a nose over 5-2 Madame Stripes.

“My filly has a lot of heart,” said trainer Richard Baltas.

The Swingtime Stakes was restricted to fillies and mares who have not won a stakes worth $60,000 or more at a mile, other than statebred races, this year.

Insta Erma was beaten in stakes at Canterbury and Del Mar earlier this year, and at Belmont Park, Aqueduct, and Gulfstream Park last fall and winter.

A 4-year-old filly, Insta Erma joined Baltas’s stable in early summer, having previously been trained by Bill Mott. In her debut for Baltas, Insta Erma was a troubled fourth at 26-1 in the Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar on Sept. 2.

“In the last race, she got stopped,” Baltas said. “That was a tough race.”

In the Swingtime, Nakatani had Insta Erma in the first half of the field of eight for most of the mile. She trailed stretch leader Belvoir Bay by a length with a furlong to go.

Madame Stripes, third in the Mabee Stakes, finished a neck in front of 7-1 Belvoir Bay, who was followed by Mrs McDougal, Do the Dance, Lady Valeur, Jeremy’s Legacy, and Show Stealer.

Mrs McDougal was the 8-5 favorite. She led for the first half of the race, but was beaten 1 1/4 lengths. The stewards conducted an inquiry into the stretch run, focusing on whether there was interference between Belvoir Bay and Mrs McDougal, but did not change the order of finish.

Insta Erma, who is by Pioneerof the Nile, has won 4 of 14 starts and earned $209,852. Insta Erma races for Medallion Racing, Premier Racing Club, Little Red Feather Racing and Jerry McClanahan.

The current team acquired Insta Erma from Zayat Stables earlier this summer when the filly switched trainers.