Instagrand

A $1.2-million purchase at a 2-year-olds in training auction by Larry Best's OXO Equine, Instagrand won his career debut by 10 lengths as the 2-5 favorite in June 2018 at Los Alamitos. He made his second start in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar and again led from start to finish en route to a 10 1/4-length runaway victory.

Owner Larry Best of OXO Equine then made the decision to give Instagrand a break from training at Taylor Made Farm despite the fact that the horse was healthy and Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer preferred to keep him in training. “Jerry feels our horse is ready to go. There’s nothing wrong with the horse,” Best told BloodHorse at the time. “It’s safe to say Jerry and I don’t agree with this.”

The Grade 3 Gotham Stakes on March 9 marked Instagrand’s long-awaited return to the races. He moved up to challenge for the lead entering the stretch after a blistering early pace but could not match strides late with deep closer Haikal and finished third. He then started in the Santa Anita Derby on April 6 in one final attempt to secure enough qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, but settled for third (worth 20 points) behind Roadster and Game Winner after setting the pace into early stretch.

Instagrand is a full-brother (same dam [mother], different sire [father]) to stakes-placed winner Aerial Assets.