Coulterberry capable of firing fresh in high-level claimer

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Strate Remark is the deserving 2-1 morning line favorite in a $75,000 claiming race that headlines the eight-race card at Hastings on Sunday. After all, he is a multiple stakes winner and he could be the controlling speed.

Nonetheless, it might be worth taking a shot with Coulterberry in the six-furlong dash, which drew seven horses.

Coulterberry, trained by Mark Cloutier, is coming off a runner-up finish going 1 1/8 miles in the $50,000 B. C. Cup Classic on Aug. 6.

What makes the 6-year-old B. C.-bred Coulterberry attractive is his record as a fresh horse. He won his debut in 2016 and he rallied to win a $25,000 claiming race by nose when he was coming off an eight-month layoff in 2017. Last year he had been off for over six months when he romped in a $16,000 claimer in April.

He will break from the outside post on Sunday with Amadeo Perez aboard. Last year’s leading rider, Perez won five races including the final four on last Sunday’s card.

KEY CONTENDERS

Strate Remark, by Sungold

Last 3 Beyers: 71-73-76

◗ Trained by Craig MacPherson, he can be a tough horse to get past when he gets his head in front. Richard Hamel rides.

DRF Formulator Fact: The past five years at Hastings, Hamel has won with 28 percent of his mounts from MacPherson.

Coulterberry, by Finality

Last 3 Beyers: 73-77-84

◗ His record as a fresh horse speaks for itself and he could get set up nicely if The All Button or He’s the Reason puts early pressure on Strate Remark.

A. P. Zona, by Creative Cause

Last 3 Beyers: 67-69-76

◗ This will be his first start since he finished sixth in the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby in 2017, but he has been training forwardly. The last horse his trainer, Phil Hall, brought back from a layoff of a year or more won.

◗ The layoff is an obvious concern, but on a positive note both of his stakes wins came sprinting.

Dennis Terry dies at 79

Dennis Terry, a leading jockey and trainer at Hastings, died in his sleep Wednesday.

According to his son Ricky Terry, he had been fighting leukemia.

He was 79.

The best horse he trained was Haveigotadealforu, who overcame a bad start to win the 1989 Canadian Derby. Haveigotadealforu also won the B.C. Premiers in 1990 and 1991.

Haveigotadealforu was retired in 1993. He spent his remaining years at Dennis Terry’s farm in Langley, a suburb of Vancouver, where he was treated like royalty by Terry and his late wife Sharon.

“He paid for the farm, so we made sure he was well taken care of,” said Terry one time.