2018 Kentucky Derby: Instilled Regard pedigree profile

Good things can arrive in plain brown wrappers.  One of them galloped to a 3 3/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes at the Fair Grounds. Skipping the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita, Jerry Hollendorfer shipped into the Fair Grounds to pick up ten 2018 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. 

Breaking alertly from post 10, Instilled Regard settled in third place for much of the race. Javier Castellano kept the colt in the clear on the outside, three to four wide behind the over-eager Believe in Royalty through early fractions of 23:48,: 47.52 and 1:13.18. With three furlongs to go, Castellano pushed the “go” button, and Instilled Regard opened up in the stretch, galloping under the wire in 1:42.59. His final time was the quickest since Vicars in Trouble’s 2014 Lecomte win in 1:42.57.  

Instilled Regard (Arch - Enhancing, by Forestry) was bred by KatieRich Farms. He was a $110,00 RNA at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. A year later, the well-bred youngster turned heads at the OBS March Two Year Olds in Training sale, after breezing two furlongs in a lightning 20.4.  The winning bid of $1,050,000, made by OXO Equine LLC was the fourth highest of the sale.

Right from the start, Instilled Regard has faced some tough horses. He made his debut against American Pharoah’s little brother, St. Patrick’s Day, beaten only 1/2 length. Next time out, the son of Arch faced recent Smarty Jones Stakes victor Mourinho and was third. The third time was the charm. Sent 1 1/16 miles by Hollendorfer, Instilled Regard cruised to a 4 1/4-length victory. He followed up with a gutsy second-place finish in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1), after pin-balling between Solomini and eventual Sham Stakes hero McKinzie. Instilled Regard has compiled a 4-1-2-1 race record, and earned $228,000, along with 14 points towards a berth in the Kentucky Derby starting gate.

Sire

Arch (Kris S. - Aurora, by Danzig) had one of the most outstanding pedigrees of his generation. The grandson of Roberto transmitted a mix of class and stamina to his offspring. The dark brown stallion was victorious from seven furlongs to 1 1/4 miles and counts the Super Derby (G-1) as his most important victory. In all, Arch raced seven times, winning five contests and placing once, with career earnings of $480,969. 

Standing his entire career at Claiborne Farm, Arch was a member of a strong crop of Freshmen sires, which included Awesome Again, Distorted Humor, Elusive Quality, Grand Slam and Tale of the Cat. Competition for mares was fierce, and Arch’s first two crops contained less than 100 foals.

Despite the small number of competing offspring, Arch quickly proved that he’d be a quality sire, getting a South African Champion Sprinter (Overarching), English Champion Older Horse (Les Arcs) and four other multiple stakes winners in his first crop. Later he produced Canadian Champion Arrivale, and Horse of the Year, Blame.  Arch is also the damsire of Champion Juvenile and outstanding sire Uncle Mo. 

Arch’s conformation practically guaranteed that his offspring would be late bloomers. The stallion had the durable conformation that is consistent in the Roberto line – solid, strong-boned, powerful individuals who can carry their speed two turns. Eleven of his progeny have won stakes races between 1 1/4 miles and 1 3/4 miles, including the aforementioned Blame, Alabama Stakes (G1) heroine Pine Island, Breeders’ Cup Marathon champ London Bridge, and Grade 2 turf router Newsdad. Arch’s son ArchArchArch was considered a favorite for the 2011 Kentucky Derby after his Arkansas Derby victory, but the colt was injured before the classic. Worldwide, Arch’s progeny have captured 62 stakes races, eleven of them at the Grade 1 level.

Female Family

Instilled Regard has a classy distaff line filled with Claiborne, Phipps and Overbrook Farm breeding influences.

Instilled Regard’s dam Enhancing (Forestry - Heavenly Prize, by Seeking the Gold) won only once in her seven-race career, a one-mile dirt race at Beulah Park, where she dominated by 9 3/4 lengths. She placed in two other maiden events.

The well-bred mare bore six foals. Only two, Instilled Regard and his older brother Tiztime to Elevate (Tiznow) have made it to the track. Tiztime to Elevate placed in one of three starts. Instilled regard has a 2-year-old sister named Heavenly Sis (Hard Spun) and a yearling brother by American Pharoah.

Enhancing didn’t live up to her illustrious breeding on the track, but she passed the family’s class to Instilled Regard. Enhancing is a 3/4 sister to Good Reward (Storm Cat), a turf router who was in the money in eleven graded stakes, including victories in the Hollywood Derby (G1) and Manhattan Handicap (G1). Good Reward’s full brother Pure Prize captured the 1 1/8 mile Kentucky Cup Classic (G2). Both stallions are sires. Another of Enchanting’s half-brothers, Cosmic (El Prado), is a listed stakes winning sprinter.

Enhancing’s half-sisters are passing the family class to the second generation. Stakes placed Distinctively bore Faithfully (Smart Strike), who is multiple Grade 1-placed at 1 1/16 and 1 1/8 miles.

Another half-sister, Just Reward (Deputy Minster), bore Persistently, who captured the 1 1/4 mile Personal Ensign Handicap (G1), and placed in the Grade 1 Frizette, Beldame, and Grade 2 Matron. Just Reward’s grand-daughter Stays in Vegas is a Grade 3 stakes-winning turf miler, and multiple Grade 1 placed at 1 1/8 miles.

Instilled Regard’s second dam is 1994 Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Heavenly Prize.  The mare raced in the Breeders’ Cup three straight years, placing third in the Juvenile Fillies and was twice second in the Distaff.  Despite not winning the Breeders’ Cup, Heavenly Prize was victorious in eight Grade 1 events from a mile to 1 1/4 miles, during her 18 race career. She placed in an additional six Grade 1 starts, including a third-place finish against the boys in the Donn Handicap, her final start. The bay Champion earned $1,825,940 and never finished off the board.

Heavenly Prize’s full sister Oh What A Windfall won or placed in six graded stakes, from seven furlongs to 1 1/8 miles. She captured the one-mile Matron Stakes (G1) as a two-year-old and another full sister, Dancinginmydreams placed in the same race. Dancinginmydreams bore Grade 1 turf router Dancing Forever, and her grand-daughter Carrumba is a Grade 3 winner at 1 1/8 miles.

Other members of this celebrated family include Breeders’ Cup Sprint hero Dancing Spree, plus Grade 1 winners Furlough, Fantastic Find, and her daughter Finder’s Fee. Instilled Regard’s fourth and fifth dams are graded stakes winners and Rene-de-Course (superior mares) Blitey and Lady Pitt.

Instilled Regard’s damsire Forestry (Storm Cat - Shared Interest, by Pleasant Colony) contributes miler speed to the colt’s pedigree.  Forestry won the Kings Bishop (G1) and the 1 1/16 mile Dwyer Stakes (G2).  A 1.5-million dollar yearling, Forestry compiled an 11-7-1-2 ($591,225) race record before trotting off to stud.

Initially standing for $50,000 in 2000, Forestry’s fee has lowered to $8,000. He spent his summers shuttling to Peru and moved permanently to Brazil in 2014.  Forestry is noted for getting fast miler types.  His offspring include Discreet Cat, winner of the Cigar Mile, Preakness Stakes hero Shackleford, and Hollywood Starlet heroine Diplomat Lady.  

Forestry is the damsire of over a dozen stakes winners, including 2015 Champion Juvenile and Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, multiple Grade One heroine Turbulent Descent, and 2014 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint champ Bobby’s Kitten. 

Instilled Regard, Nyquist and Turbulent Descent share the same damsire and second damsire, Forestry and Seeking the Gold.

Expectations

Instilled Regard’s pedigree carries stamina influences from Arch, speed from Forestry, and middle-distance influence Seeking the Gold, who is Instilled Regard’s second damsire. Additionally, the colt may carry a dominant large-heart gene. Can I prove it? No, only an EKG can prove it. The X-Factor or active large heart gene is passed from sire to daughter and from daughter to son. Additionally, a dam can pass a recessive version of the gene to her daughters, who in turn, pass it along to their sons.

Instilled Regard’s first four damsires, Forestry, Seeking the Gold, Nijinsky II, and Riva Ridge all carried a dominant large heart gene. The colt’s second through fourth dams also had the large heart gene.  The physical presence of slightly curled leaf-like ears are positive indications and the only physical characteristic that a horse may carry the X-Factor.  Recent competitors who carry a dominant large heart gene include American Pharoah, Zenyatta, and the afore-mentioned 2016 Kentucky Derby hero Nyquist.

A positive X-Factor gene doesn’t make an instant superstar. A horse’s athletic and mental abilities are major determining factors.  Instilled Regard has a well-balanced, athletic conformation and the body of a classic contender. He runs straight with no paddling or excessive leg motion. Instilled Regard has a fluid gallop and stretches out nicely when extended. The colt doesn’t have sprinter’s speed, but he’s fast enough to break quickly and has the maneuverability to be placed anywhere in the race and make a strong late move. That doesn’t mean there aren’t any chinks in the armor. Instilled Regard did defer to McKinzie in the CashCall. He had every opportunity to go by his rival but stayed a neck behind.

Instilled Regard has the pedigree and conformation of a horse that can handle middle to classic distances. Traditionally, the Lecomte stakes isn't a good indicator of Kentucky Derby quality. However, since 2000, two Kentucky Derby runner-ups, a Preakness winner and third place finisher won or placed in the Lecomte Stakes.  Last century, Risen Star placed third in the Kentucky Derby, then won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. Way back in 1972, No Le Hace was a LeComte winner who placed in the Kentucky Derby. Instilled Regard is a colt to keep on your Triple Crown watch list, especially as distances lengthen.

Conformation photo of Instilled Regard used by gracious permission of Holly M. Smith Photography.