Instygator surges to All American Derby triumph
Four times from May 2020 through May of this year, Instygator was second or third in major Quarter Horse stakes in New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
In Sunday’s $929,225 All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs, Instygator won the most prestigious race of his career, benefiting from a poor start by 4-5 favorite Empressum.
Empressum, who won the $672,732 Ruidoso Derby in June and the $678,253 Rainbow Derby in July, broke poorly and never recovered in the 440-yard race, finishing fifth by 2 1/4 lengths. Empressum had a chance to be the fourth horse in history to sweep Ruidoso’s Triple Crown for 3-year-olds, and first since DM Shicago in 2005.
In Sunday’s preceding race, Apollitical Daizies ($19.20) won the $439,884 All American Oaks by a length over the previously undefeated Whistle Stop Café, the 2020 Quarter Horse World Champion.
Instygator, ridden by Juan Pulido, broke from post 7 in a field of nine and was away well. Despite drifting to the inside, Instygator ($6) was clear of his rivals after 100 yards and won by 1 1/4 lengths over 11-1 Favorite Doc. Candy Blood (5-1) finished third, beaten two lengths.
Instygator was timed in 20.91. A gelding by Ivory James, Instygator races for Barboza Racing Corp., and trainer Santos Carrizales Jr. A winner of 7 of 11 starts, Instygator won a division of the All American Derby trials on Aug. 22, setting the fastest qualifying time of 21.07 seconds.
Instygator was second by a neck as the 9-5 favorite in the $3 million All American Futurity in 2020. The same race will be run on Monday at Ruidoso Downs.
Last November, Instygator was second by a nose in the $1.03 million Texas Classic Futurity at Lone Star Park. Earlier this year, Instygator was second by three-quarters of a length in the $361,010 Heritage Place Derby at Remington Park in May.
Instygator has earned $1,268,239.
Apollitical Daizies won her first stakes in her 12th start in the All American Oaks.
Apollitical Daizies, who was ridden by Mario Delgado, broke well from the inside in a field of nine and had a comfortable lead by a half-length midway through the 440 yards.
Whistle Stop Café (1-5) delivered an incident-free performance, but could not keep pace and finished second. HR Princess Jess, third to Empressum in the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Derby in April, finished third by 2 1/2 lengths at 15-1 after bumping with a rival at the start.
Apollitical Daizies races for Victor Lozano and trainer Martin Orona. By Apollitical Jess, Apollitical Daizies was timed in 21.05 seconds, quicker than her qualifying time of 21.30 seconds. A three-time winner, Apolloitical Daizies has earned $210,051.
Whistle Stop Café has won 9 of 10 starts and earned $2,222,840, the highest earnings for a Quarter Horse filly or mare. She won three major stakes – the Rainbow and All American futurities in 2020 and the Rainbow Oaks on July 24 for Lainie and Raymond Whitmore of Sallisaw, Okla., and trainer Trey Wood.