By Joe Bianca
All the rage after two incredibly easy victories to start his career last summer, OXO Equine's 'TDN Rising Star' Instagrand (Into Mischief) is winless in two starts as a 3-year-old and will get a reset of sorts when he goes postward as the heavy favorite in Saturday's GIII Pat Day Mile S. at Churchill.
Cruising by 10 lengths while clicking off his final furlongs in :11 flat June 29 at Los Alamitos, the $1.2-million Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream co-topper was backed down to 1-10 in the GII Best Pal S. and did not disappoint, cantering home 10 1/4 lengths to the good while getting his final quarter in :23 3/5. Taken out of training after that, he returned in the GIII Gotham S. Mar. 9 at Aqueduct and ran creditably, finishing third after chasing a scorching pace. He stretched out to two turns for the first time in the nine-furlong GI Santa Anita Derby and gave in late to be third behind fellow 'Rising Star's Roadster (Quality Road) and Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}). The bay drew advantageously in the 10-hole for this test, outside of the other speed.
A distant second choice on the morning line is Mathis Stable and Madaket Stables' Last Judgment (Congrats). Trained by Todd Pletcher, the $300,000 OBS April buy was fourth at 11-10 debuting against Florida-breds Dec. 29 at Gulfstream before graduating in a sharp score there Feb. 9. He handled his first route try with a victory in an Oaklawn optional claimer Mar. 16.
John C. Oxley's 'Rising Star' Dream Maker was on the Derby Trail after an impressive 8 1/2-length optional claiming score Feb. 9 at Fair Grounds, but failed to punch his ticket in a pair of subsequent outings, beating just two horses combined in the GII Tampa Bay Derby and GII Toyota Blue Grass S.
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