Instilled Regard to run in Santa Anita Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. - Instilled Regard, a graded stakes winner at Fair Grounds earlier this year, will start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 7 and will be ridden by Joel Rosario, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Friday.

Hollendorfer said Rosario worked Instilled Regard on a trip to California last Sunday. Instilled Regard worked six furlongs in 1:17.80.

“He didn’t work that fast, but he finished good,” Hollendorfer said. “Joel liked him enough to say that he will ride him.”

Instilled Regard, by Arch, has won 2 of 6 starts and earned $244,000.

Owned by Larry Best’s OXO Equine, Instilled Regard won the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds on Jan. 13, and was fourth as the 7-5 favorite in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes there Feb. 17 after a wide trip.

Instilled Regard, who was purchased for $1.05 million at the 2017 Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in training last March, finished third in his stakes debut in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity in December, but was promoted to second after race winner Solomini was disqualified to third for causing interference in the stretch.

The $1 million Santa Anita Derby is run at 1 1/8 miles and is the leading California prep race for the Triple Crown.

The top contenders are Bolt d’Oro and McKinzie, Grade 1 stakes winners who were first and second in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on March 10. McKinzie finished first by a head in the San Felipe Stakes, but was disqualified and placed second for causing interference.

Hollendorfer acknowledged that the Santa Anita Derby will be the toughest race of Instilled Regard’s career so far.

“Anyone who can pass that test will be in good shape,” Hollendorfer said.