The Meadows: Insta Glam catches the eye in PA Sire Stakes romp

Insta Glam, coming off two strong qualifiers at the Meadowlands, rolled to an easy victory and tied the stakes record of 1:55 in the last of three Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisions for rookie trotting fillies on Monday afternoon at The Meadows.

Driven by Yannick Gingras, Insta Glam was third at the 28 second opening quarter but made a move to the outside in the second quarter and cleared before the 57 2/5 half. Insta Glam would go on to hit three-quarters in 1:26 3/5, began to open up on the last turn, and reached the finish line 4 1/4 lengths ahead of You Ato Dream (Jeff Gregory). May Karp (Mike Wilder) was the third-place finisher in the $70,077 dash.

"She's like an old pro," Gingras said. "She's so mature, does everything you need her to do. She's got it figured out already. One lifetime start and she's got it figured out."

A daughter of Father Patrick, Insta Glam is trained by Nancy Takter for owners/breeders Goran Falk and Christina Takter. Insta Glam, who was first and second in her two baby races, is the initial foal out of the Muscle Hill mare Hollywood Hill (1:56 4/5, $69,964), a half-sister to The Bank (Donato Hanover, 1:50 4/5, $1,110,300). Insta Glam paid $2.40 to win as the 2-5 choice.

Back in the opening split, Lady Chaos (David Miller) left out from post eight and was able to get around early leader Flawless Country (Aaron Merriman) beyond the 29 second opening quarter. Lady Chaos backed down the half to just 59 seconds but then came under attack from a first-over Kayla's Playmate (Andy Miller), and they battled to the 1:27 3/5 three-quarters and around the last turn. Lady Chaos managed to halt Kayla's Playmate's advance in the lane, but then a resurgent Flawless County rallied up the passing lane. She was unable to get by either, though, as Lady Chaos dug in gamely to prevail by a head in 1:57. Kayla's Playmate held third.

"I was worried because I like this filly, and I wanted to see her get started on the right note," said trainer Linda Toscano. "But she put in a great effort. She had a horse coming at her down the stretch and she still finished ahead."

The victorious Cantab Hall filly is trained by Toscano for owners Richard Gutnick, Thomas Pontone, Joseph Lozito Jr., and Enviro Stables LTD. Lady Chaos, who was bred by Lindy Farms and AV & Son Bloodstock LLC., fetched $125,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and entered today's race off a qualifying win at Magical Acres and a baby race at the Meadowlands where she closed in 26 4/5 to finish second. Lady Chaos is the first foal out of the Muscles Yankee mare Strong Legacy (1:58 3/5, $6,130), a full sister to Mr. Muscleman (1:51 1/5, $3,582,823). Lady Chaos was the 1-2 favorite and returned $3.00 to win.

Also collecting the first stakes win of her career was Pub Crawl, who took the second section in 1:55 4/5. With Andy Miller at the lines, she tucked in fourth from post eight while Mazzarati (David Miller) shot to the lead and carved out panels of 27 4/5, 57, and 1:25 4/5. Pub Crawl began a first-over move before three-quarters but then wound up three-wide around the far turn when pocket-sitter Pantera (Yannick Gingras) came out in the two-wide path before Pub Crawl could cover her up on the outside. Even with having to go wide, Pub Crawl kicked home strongly, and she would get to the wire first, defeating a passing lane-rallying Lexa Hanover (Merriman) by a head. Mazzarati was a game third after giving way late.

"We ended up three deep in the last turn - didn't really want to be there," Andy Miller said. "But she kept going, kept digging all the way to the wire. It was a pretty big mile for this early. She'll stay in sires stakes for now; hopefully somewhere down the line we can do a little Grand Circuit racing."

From the first crop of Bar Hopping, Pub Crawl is trained by Julie Miller for owners Andy Miller Stable Inc., Lou Willinger, Kapildeo Singh, and Phillip Helmuth. Pub Crawl, who won a qualifier at Gaitway and then was second in her first pari-mutuel start on June 26 at Harrah's Philadelphia, was bred by Fair Winds Farm Inc. and Steve Jones and was a $75,000 acquisition at the Standardbred Horse Sale. Pub Crawl's dam is the Lindy Lane mare Myth (1:57 3/5, $2,875), making Pub Crawl a half-sister to Mythical Lindy (SJ's Caviar, 1:53 2/5, $629,104) and Mythical Hall (Andover Hall, 1:54 4/5, $587,320). Pub Crawl went off as the public choice and paid $4.60 to win.

--quotes courtesy of The Meadows--