'TDN Rising Star' Instagrand (Into Mischief) suffered a sesamoid fracture during the running of the GIII Pat Day Mile at Churchill Saturday, in which he finished a eighth as the even-money favorite, owner Larry Best confirmed Wednesday. The $1.2 million FTFMAR co-topper will undergo surgery at Rood and Riddle and has a positive prognosis for returning to the track. The story was first reported by the Blood-Horse.
“We put him in the Pat Day Mile and he injured himself,” Best told the TDN. “He didn't show up in the race, so I knew something was wrong. I held him in Kentucky and sent him to Taylor Made until I could get him into Rood and Riddle. He went there this morning to get an assessment, not knowing what it was. They found a left hind sesamoid fracture. It is going to require surgery to take a segment out next week at Rood and Riddle. Then he will probably need 90 to 120 days off before he returns to training. It is a set back, but at least we know why he didn't show up in the Pat Day Mile.”
He continued, “I was hoping it was not a fracture, but it is. We will get him back in top shape, get him back in training in late summer and hopefully get him back in some races before the year is out.”
Undefeated in two starts as a juvenile, including the GII Best Pal S., Instagrand finished third in both the Mar. 9 GIII Gotham S. and Apr. 6 GI Santa Anita Derby prior to his unplaced effort in the Pat Day Mile Saturday.
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