Insta Erma Rallies to Take Ladies Turf Stakes
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Photo: Reed Palmer Photography/Kentucky Downs
Arklow wins the Kentucky Downs Calumet Farm Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs
With a ground-saving run that sent her sailing to the front of the field, Insta Erma rallied from last to win the $500,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes (G3T) Sept. 8 at Kentucky Downs.
In the one-mile test for older fillies and mares, I'm Betty G led the field through six furlongs in 1:13.10 before she was overtaken at the top of the stretch by Valadorna. Running well off the rail from the start under jockey Drayden Van Dyke, Insta Erma got up for fourth as they entered the final turn.
Under a long drive, Insta Erma moved into second, three lengths behind Valadorna, as they entered the stretch. Those two ran neck and neck to the wire, and Insta Erma prevailed by a neck at the wire. The final time for the race was 1:36.26.
The Ladies Turf Stakes marked the first graded stakes victory for the 5-year-old Pioneerof the Nile mare, who entered the race off a four-month layoff. Bred in Kentucky by Zayat Stables, Insta Erma started 12 times for her breeders before she was consigned to Fasig-Tipton's Summer Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale last year. She was purchased by David Meah, agent, for $290,000 from the consignment of Elite Sales.
Trained by Richard Baltas, Insta Erma has competed exclusively in graded company this season. The win was her first trip to the winner's circle since October, when she took the Swingtime Stakes at Santa Anita Park by a nose.
Owned by Medallion Racing, Premier Racing Club, Jerry McClanahan, and Christopher Johnson, Insta Erma holds a 5-4-2 record from 19 starts, with total earnings of $569,897. Out of the Woodman mare Enchanted Woods, Insta Erma is a half sister to grade 3-placed Emmajestic and stakes winner Mordi's Miracle.
Three races later, in another massive come-from-behind effort, Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger, and Peter Coneway's Arklow took a similar path to victory in the $750,000 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes (G3T).
Rallying off the rail from the back of the pack to settle in second at the top of the stretch, Arklow edged past Soglio with a final kick and held off a late challenge from Bigger Picture to win the 1 1/2-mile test by a half-length in 2:30.56.
The winner paid $15.80, $6.60, and $5.20 on a $2 wager. It was the second consecutive victory for Arklow, who took the Kentucky Downs Preview Calumet Farm Turf Cup Stakes Aug. 5 at Ellis Park. The 4-year-old son of Arch improved his record to 5-2-1 in 15 starts, with $853,382 in earnings.
Arklow was a $160,000 purchase by Donegal Racing from the Penn Sales consignment to the 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Bred in Kentucky by John Penn and Frank Penn, out of the Empire Maker mare Unbridled Empire, Arklow is a half brother to grade 2 winner Maraud.
Video: Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf S. (G3T)