Superwolf became the first black-type winner for his sire, Taylor Made Stallions' freshman Instagrand , when he landed the Best of Ohio Juvenile Stakes Oct. 26 at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.
The bay gelding, sent off as the second choice in the field of eight Ohio-bred juveniles, set the pace through the opening quarter in :22.97. Race favorite Fortissimo made an early move after a half-mile in :47.14, spurting clear by two lengths. Undeterred, Superwolf reengaged to pass that rival through six furlongs in 1:14.08.
The son of Instagrand would not relinquish the lead again, withstanding a rally by longshot Ed's Reward to secure victory by a half-length. Final time for the 1 1/16-mile event was 1:49.79 on a fast main track.
Bred by Mapleton Thoroughbred Farm in Ohio, Superwolf is owned by Marion Gorham and trained by Robert Gorham. Out of the winning Speightstown mare Sunshineandsilence , Superwolf is one of seven winners from as many to race for his dam, and her first stakes winner. The gelding now owns a 2-1-0 record in four starts for earnings of $101,020.
A $1.2 million 2-year-old purchase by OXO Equine, Instagrand was undefeated as a juvenile, winning on debut before taking the 2018 Best Pal Stakes (G2) at Del Mar. The son of Into Mischief would go on to finish third in the 2019 Gotham Stakes (G3) and Santa Anita Derby (G1) at 3. A top-10 freshman sire represented by 10 winners and two black-type runners through Oct. 25, Instagrand will stand the 2025 breeding season for $10,000 at Taylor Made near Nicholasville, Ky.