By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport

 

SCENE & HEARD: Doug Clark’s Four Footed Foto that caught Glen Todd draped in 350 red roses after the 74th running of the BC Derby last Saturday said it all.

While it couldn’t quite be described as a million-dollar smile, the $137,500 as the owner’s share of the $250,000 purse was fine with Todd.

More important than the money was the fact he had won his first BC Derby with Mario Gutierrez aboard Five Star General, something Todd had been hoping for years the two could enjoy together.

It was the second BC Derby title for Todd and his North American Thoroughbred Horse Company but having Mario in the saddle was obviously special, considering their well-documented background and relationship.

Todd’s first Derby win came with Antonio Reyes aboard Sorryaboutnothing in 2016, the same year Gutierrez was busy chasing a Triple Crown dream after riding Nyquist to a Kentucky Derby victory for trainer Doug O’Neill.

Todd described Saturday as “the best day for me personally in 50 years in the racing business”.

And why not?  He had earlier won the $100,000 BC Oaks with 11-1 longshot Amazonian and capped the day off with a win in the $50,000 S.W. Randall Plate with He’s the Reason, both with veteran and home-based jockey Richard Hamel.

Take a look today at the statues lined up in front of the tote board recognizing some of the more significant 2019 stake races at Hastings.

Of the 12 sculptured figurines on display, with the paint still a little damp signifying Five Star General winning the BC Derby and Amazonian capturing the BC Oaks, there are now a total of five wearing Todd’s red and white checks.

The celebrated row includes Five Star General also winning the Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial on August 5, He’s the Reason winning the Lieutenant Governors’ Handicap on July 14 and Pan Handle taking the Swift Thoroughbreds Inaugural on May 4.

With those cherished statues also representing the $100,000 Ballerina (Sept. 28) and $100,000 BC Premiers (Sept. 29), Todd could have a chance to add two more to his growing collection.

But nothing, he says, will top wearing that blanket of red roses last Saturday with Mario at his side.