Instill turns the tables on River Bear

Instill was no match for River Bear in an allowance race late last month at Hawthorne, but turned the tables in the $114,700 Jim Edgar Futurity for Illinois-breds, beating River Bear by five lengths.

Instill, the 7-2 second choice, is owned by Sharon Morgan, trained by John Wainwright, and was ridden to victory by Chris Emigh.

Ready for the races way back in April, Instill made one start, came up with sore shins, and raced just once over the summer at the Arlington meet. After a second-place finish in his Hawthorne comeback this fall, he finally won a maiden race, scoring by more than 11 lengths in a sprint.

Instill's Nov. 28 match-up with River Bear marked his first start around two turns, and he clearly benefited more from the experience than River Bear, who has made two more starts than Instill, and ran steadily through the summer.

P D Q Kiddo set the early pace at snowy Hawthorne, going the opening half-mile in a moderate 49.30 seconds, with Instill pressing on the outside. Jockey Gabriel Lagunes made an early move with River Bear, going after the leaders not much past the half-mile pole. Moving widest, River Bear poked his head in front midway around the far turn, but Emigh and Instill held their position inside River Bear and a couple paths off the rail, taking control at the eighth pole, and drawing away to a clear win in deep stretch. Best Buddy, a maiden, finished third

Instill ($9.80) was timed in 1:47.77 for 1 1/16 miles.