Insta Glam made her career debut an impressive one, as she matched the 1:55 stakes record during Monday (July 6) Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action at the Meadows.
The event for freshman filly trotters, known as the Meadow Gladys, was contested over three divisions, with Pub Crawl and Lady Chaos taking the other splits.
A homebred daughter of Father Patrick-Hollywood Hill, Insta Glam was away third before Yannick Gingras quarter-poled her to the point. She had the field at her mercy at the top of the lane and drew off to defeat 60-1 long shot You Ato Dream by 4-1/4 lengths, with May Karp third. Her time equalled the stake mark established by Vivacious Allie in 2017.
“She’s like an old pro,” Gingras said. “She’s so mature, does everything you need her to do. She’s got it figured out already. One lifetime start and she’s got it figured out.”
Nancy Takter, who trains Insta Glam for Goran Falk and Christina Takter, said the youngster has a full card of stakes engagements, including the Jim Doherty Trot July 31 at the Meadowlands.
Pub Crawl had the sort of demanding journey few two-year-olds like. Used from post 8 for early position, first up, pushed wide into the final turn. Yet with Andy Miller at the helm, the daughter of Bar Hopping-Myth made it all work, prevailing in 1:55.4, a head better than Lexa Hanover. Mazzarati completed the ticket.
“We ended up three deep in the last turn — didn’t really ant to be there,” Miller said. “But she kept going, kept digging all the way to the wire. It was a pretty big mile for this early. She’ll stay in sires stakes for now; hopefully somewhere down the line we can do a little Grand Circuit racing.”
Julie Miller conditions Pub Crawl for Andy Miller Stable, Louis Willinger, Kapildeo Singh and Phillip Helmuth.
Lady Chaos endured some early adversity of her own in her career bow, parked three wide to the quarter from post 8.
“I was worried because I like this filly, and I wanted to see her get started on the right note,” said trainer Linda Toscano of her $125,000 yearling acquisition. “But she put in a great effort. She had a horse coming at her down the stretch and she still finished ahead.”
The daughter of Cantab Hall-Strong Legacy cleared past the quarter for David Miller and held off the Lightning Lane challenge of Kaylas Playmate to down her by a head in 1:57, with Flawless Country third.
Richard Gutnick, Thomas Pontone, Joseph Lozito, Jr. and Enviro Stables campaign Lady Chaos.
In Monday’s companion feature, Love Muffin zipped to the lead from post 8, picked up key cover and brushed through the Lightning Lane to triumph in 1:57, erasing the stake record Lady Athena set in 2015.
Also taking splits were Midpoint, Alpine and Bless Your Heart. Trainer Per Engblom enjoyed a stake double with Midpoint and Alpine.
Trainer David Wiest indicated he told winning driver Jim Pantaleano that Love Muffin is an aggressive filly who would leave well for him.
“She’s aggressive, but she’s easy to handle out of the gate,” Wiest said. “I told Jim she’s a nice, sensible filly to drive. At this point, we plan on keeping her in the stallion series. She has some other stakes later in the year.”
With her Lightning Lane charge, the homebred daughter of Andover Hall, owned by Ed Kimmel and Don Wiest, defeated Myreanna by three-quarters of a length. Cheesy Hanover earned show.
Live racing at The Meadows continues Tuesday when the card features a $5,000 total-pool guarantee for the Early Pick 4 (race 3). First post is 12:45 p.m.
(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)