Instilled Regard Gets Job Done in Fort Marcy

OXO Equine's Instilled Regard notched his third graded stakes win June 6 at Belmont Park, taking over down the lane of the inner turf course to win the $150,000 Fort Marcy Stakes (G2T).

Instilled Regard, one of four Chad Brown trainees entered in the 1 1/8-mile race, headed the field of nine as the 2-1 favorite under Irad Ortiz Jr. The 5-year-old son of Arch was two wide in sixth through the first quarter-mile and gradually moved up as Somelikeithotbrown set fractions of :22.89, :46.96, and 1:11.30.

The French-bred Tribhuvan, another Brown trainee making his second North American start, bobbled at the start from the outside post and the rein snapped soon after the start. Jockey Jose Ortiz was able to steer Tribhuvan wide and away from the rest of the field to avoid trouble. The Toronado colt remained far out down the backstretch and through the far turn.

With three-eighths to go, Instilled Regard advanced up to third with only a length separating him and Somelikeithotbrown. Despite darting between the two and four paths in response to the whip, Instilled Regard took over down the stretch and was able to hold off Devamani, his late-running stablemate, by a neck. 

The final time on good turf was 1:47.07.

"I broke well and was in a good position from the beginning," Ortiz Jr. said. "I was in a perfect spot on the backside just waiting, and then I saw a horse on the outside move. I moved a little early, but I had no choice because I didn't want to be behind horses. So I moved him out and he just took off and started moving really good. When I asked him turning for home, he responded really well.

"He's a nice horse. I've been riding him four times now, and since the first day, we connected great. He has a huge stride. He's the kind of horse that needs the mile and an eighth. He's doing so well right now. He comes back to me whenever I need him, and when I ask him, he's there for me."

The Fort Marcy was the third start of the year for Instilled Regard, who finished third in the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1T) at Gulfstream Park and sixth in the March 21 Muniz Memorial Classic (G2T) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

"He got a beautiful trip. Irad rode him with a lot of confidence," Brown said. "He had been training well. We drew a line through that last start at the Fair Grounds. He didn't seem to handle the ground well.

"I was a little concerned today. He likes the ground firm, and there was a lot of moisture. I'm very proud of this horse that he actually handled some moisture in the ground on the Belmont course. It was a relief to see that. I know he's better on firm turf, but he showed a lot of guts today. The turf is not that soft, but there definitely is some give in it."

Somelikeithotbrown held for third. Synchrony, Flop Shot, Social Paranoia, and Temple completed the order of finish. Ortiz was able to guide Tribhuvan over to the rail in the homestretch, and the colt was apprehended by an outrider inside the sixteenth pole. The colt walked off the course. Gucci Factor raced in close proximity with Instilled Regard through the first half-mile but was through early. He wandered four wide into the stretch and was allowed to fade away protected by jockey Junior Alvarado before being vanned off.

Instilled Regard was bred in Kentucky by KatieRich Farms out of the Forestry mare Enhancing. He was a $110,000 RNA at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale but sold to Larry Best's OXO Equine for $1.05 million when consigned by Tom McCrocklin at the 2017 Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

The dark bay or brown runner improved his record to 4-3-4 from 17 starts, including victories in the 2019 Ft. Lauderdale Stakes (G2T) and 2018 Lecomte Stakes (G3). He has earned $763,240.

Video: Fort Marcy S. (G2T)