Five Star General brings three-race win streak to Lieutenant Governors' Handicap

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Five Star General will try to keep his perfect record at Hastings intact when he runs in the $50,000 Lieutenant Governors’ Handicap on Thursday. Last year’s Grade 3 British Columbia Derby winner will be a short price to win the 6 1/2-furlong dash that drew five horses. It goes as the third race on an eight-race program that begins at 4:30 p.m. Pacific.

Five Star General was bought last summer by owner-trainer Glen Todd with an eye on winning the B.C. Derby. In his first start at Hastings, with two-time Kentucky Derby winner Mario Gutierrez riding, he was an easy winner of the $50,000 Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial on Aug. 5. Gutierrez also was in the saddle when the Kentucky-bred son of Distorted Humor edged Explode by a nose in the B.C. Derby on Sept. 7.

With leading rider Efrain Hernandez riding, Five Star General looked better than ever when he won a conditioned allowance race with a $50,000 claiming option going 6 1/2 furlongs in his first start as an older horse July 13. He broke sharply, and before taking control at the quarter pole, sat just off his stablemate He’s the Reason who set the pace. It was his first win sprinting, and with a bullet five-furlong move on July 28 he figures to be double tough right back.

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He will break from post 2 with Hernandez aboard.

Five Star General could get the same trip he had in his 4-year-old unveiling. However, he will be stalking a different stablemate, Pan Handle, who looks like the main speed.

Pan Handle has not raced in more than a year, but he can fire fresh, as evidenced by his front-running victory in the $50,000 Swift Inaugural in his first start last year.

After a fourth-place finish in his next start in the $50,000 George Royal Stakes on May 26, 2019, he was given the rest of the year off.

With a slew of solid works, Pan Handle could fire a big shot if he clears early after breaking from the outside post with Scott Williams riding.

Trainer Mark Cloutier pulled off an upset Sunday at Hastings with Under Par holding off Here’s Hannah in the $50,000 Monashee. He is hoping for a similar outcome with Coulterberry on Thursday.

Unlike Under Par, who led the Monashee from start to finish, Coulterberry doesn’t figure to be heard from until late. The 7-year-old homebred owned by Roy and Dixie Jacobson used his strong closing kick to compile and 4-2-0 record from seven starts last year. He began his 2019 campaign with a blowout win going six furlongs in a $75,000 claiming race. His most important victory came in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic going 1 1/16 miles at Emerald Downs.

This will be his first start since he finished last in the $113,000 Harvest Plate at Century Downs. The layoff should not be a concern, though. He won his debut in 2016 and his initial start the next three years.

Coulterberry will break from the inside post with his usual rider, Amadeo Perez, in the irons.