Instagram Model picture perfect in $355,000 Jim Doherty Memorial

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Instagram Model (Chapter Seven) floated off the pegs and powered to the lead to land the money shot in the $355,000 Jim Doherty Memorial, for 2-year-old harness racing trotting fillies, on Saturday afternoon (Aug. 6) at the Meadowlands.

Instagram Model settled in third while Royal Filly left for the top to a :27 first quarter. Una Madonna rode the pocket while the field raced mostly in file to a :55.1 half. Andy McCarthy made his move with Instagram Model heading to the far turn and marched forward to press Royal Filly to three-quarters in 1:24.3.

Royal Filly folded spinning for home, and Instagram Model powered to a widened lead entering the final eighth. Mambacita, the 4-5 favorite, motored from third-over down the center of the course to secure second by a diminishing one-length behind Instagram Model’s 1:53 lifetime best effort. Una Madonna shook loose from the pocket to take third, and Graceful Patty rallied for fourth.

“It was perfect today,” said McCarthy, who acquired the drive after Instagram Model’s usual driver, Scott Zeron, was injured in a recent racing accident. “Post nine last week was just really hard; I didn’t want to overuse her last week. But I was happy with the spot today and the way the fractions set up. We got to kind of hide her for a little bit and move her when we needed to. It was great.”

INSTAGRAM MODEL REPLAY

“I take no credit,” trainer Annie Stoebe said after the race. “For the first time training her, I told Lynn [Curry], ‘You know … she’s different.’ She’s been nothing but a professional from day one and she’s all about doing her job.”

Collecting her second win from three starts, Instagram Model has now banked $178,625 for owner R. Lynn Curry. The daughter of Chapter Seven returned $10.40 to win.

To read stories from all the action on Hambo Day, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Ray Cotolo, for The Meadowlands