Mario Gutierrez seeks first B.C. Derby win at Hastings

September 7, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Mario Gutierrez may have two jewels of horse racing’s triple crown to his name as well as local fame from his time at Hastings Racecourse, but the noted jockey hasn’t yet won his adopted province’s biggest race: the B.C. Derby.

The 32-year-old Gutierrez aims to change that this weekend astride a Five Star General.

Saturday’s B.C. Derby and B.C. Oaks races will be the best day of racing at Hastings Racecourse in years, says horse owner Glen Todd. Todd has horses in four stakes races, but it’s the B.C. Derby that will be the most hotly contested, with a thriller of a field competing for the $250,000 purse.

“Anybody could win,” said Todd.

Two-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey and Hastings hero Gutierrez will be riding for Todd in the B.C. Derby. And while Gutierrez, now based in Santa Anita, Calif., is also a Preakness Stakes winner, he’s never won the B.C. Derby.

Story continues below:

Filed Under: Horse Racing News, International Horse Racing Tagged With: , ,

I’ll Have Another seeks 1st Triple Crown since 1978

May 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment
KY Derby and Preakness winner

I'll Have Another edges out Bodemeister, copyright Eclipse Sportswire

I’ll Have Another seeks to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 when he goes to the post in the Belmont Stakes on June 9. After a surprising win at odds of 15-1 in the Kentucky Derby, I’ll Have Another proved that was no fluke with an even more impressive victory in the Preakness Stakes last Saturday.

The talented Bob Baffert colt Bodemeister was loose on an uncontested lead through moderate fractions, as I’ll Have Another stalked in third behind Creative Cause. Turning for home jockey Mario Gutierrez made his move aboard the Kentucky Derby winner, and I’ll Have Another responded by cutting into Bodemeister’s lead with each stride. He caught him yards from the wire, and the result…now we will have party on the second Saturday in June in Elmont, New York!

New Yorkers come out in throngs when a Triple Crown bid is on the line, and June 9 will be no exception. Belmont Park will be packed to the rafters, and the outside picnic area will be overflowing.

Who will stand in the colt’s way? The leading threats will be Fountain of Youth winner Union Rags and Bluegrass Stakes winner Dullahan, who was a good third in the Kentucky Derby. Will I’ll Have Another become the first Triple Crown winner since the mighty Affirmed in 1978? Find out on June 9th!

Filed Under: Horse Racing News, Kentucky Derby | Triple Crown Tagged With: , , , ,