North American Thoroughbred Horse Company’s FIVE STAR GENERAL went head to head with Canadian Derby (G3) winner EXPLODE in the stretch run of the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby on Saturday at Hastings Park and won by a nose. The pair put on a nice show for the big crowd that gave a rousing cheer to the 3-year-old’s rider MARIO GUTIERREZ, who was winning his first BC Derby.
Gutierrez got his start in racing in North America at Hastings Park and was taken under the wing of owner Glen Todd, who operates North American Thoroughbred Horse Company. The young rider set sail for the US and won two-thirds of the American Triple Crown on I’LL HAVE ANOTHER in 2012.
Gutierrez often visits Hastings Park to ride in races but he had never won the BC Derby before.
Jockey Mario Gutierrez greets the fans after his BC Derby win on Five Star General – Photo courtesy Lisa Thompson/Derby Bar & Grill
FIVE STAR GENERAL, a son of Distorted Humor – Party of Interest by Bernardini was a stakes winner at 2 for breeder WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF INvestments. The big dark bay was purchased for $180,000 by Todd at the Fasig Tipton Mixed Sale earlier this summer.
The colt promptly came to Hastings and won the Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial with Gutierrez aboard.
In the BC Derby, Five Star General was a bit headstrong early in the 1 1/8 mile race on dirt but soon got into a steady gallop on the pace. Explode tracked him all the way. The two hooked up on the turn for home and ding-donged their way to the wire. Explode, owned by Ole A. Nielsen ran a heroic race to just miss and Peter Redekop’s Final Jeopardy rallied for third. The time was 1:52.43.
In 1978 a horse by the name of Five Star General won the BC Derby for Golden Chance Farm.
It was Redekop who added $100,000 to the BC Derby purse, making it a $250,000 stakes.
Glenn Todd, who trains his own horses won 3 of the 4 stakes races on Derby day as AMAZONIAN won the BC Oaks (a daughter of Malibu Moon – Fly the Flag by Giant’s Causeway) while HE’S THE REASON (The Factor – Sandra’s Rose by Old Trieste) won the SW Randall Plate.
Jockey SAHIN CIVACI, who rides at Woodbine now, won three races and was integral in posting one of the biggest upsets of the day as his mount BEAR (Super Saver – Cuero by Valid Expectations) edged the amazing Here’s Hannah by a head in the Delta Colleen Stakes. Bear is owned by Phil and Mort Hall and Pravin Sorensen and trained by Phil Hall.
Nigel Reid recaps the big day at Hastings Park at Derby Bar & Grill.
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