Five Star General invades

Hastings-based Glen Todd is invading Emerald Downs on Thursday with some serious ammo for the Grade 3, $100,000 Longacres Mile and $40,000 Emerald Distaff Handicap.

Last Thursday, Todd captured the Washington Oaks with Princess of Cairo, who upset heavily favored Daffodil Sweet in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies.

Princess of Cairo was the second choice in the Oaks. Five Star General is the 9-2 morning-line second choice behind Anothertwistafate in the Mile. The Todd-trained He’s the Reason is next in line at 5-1.

Todd also has a big shot with Amazonian, the 4-1 third choice in the 1 1/16-mile Distaff.

“I was pretty confident going into the Oaks with Princess of Cairo,” Todd said. “I feel pretty good about the three horses I’m sending down this time.”

He also is thrilled that twotime Kentucky Derby winner Mario Gutierrez is coming up from Southern California to ride Five Star General and Amazonian.

“Mario loves Five Star General,” Todd said.

He could have added, “With good reason.”

Last year, Gutierrez won the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby aboard Five Star General. The only other time he rode the Kentucky-bred colt by Distorted Humor, he won the $50,000 Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial.

Todd is hoping Gutierrez will give him his second win in the Mile. Gutierrez was aboard the Todd-trained Taylor Said when he won the 2012 Mile.

Five Star General is coming off a disappointing effort as the heavy favorite in the $50,000 Lieutenant Governor’s on Aug. 6 at Hastings. On paper, it looked like stablemate Pan Handle would be the rabbit for Five Star General in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint. Somehow Five Star General ended up dueling with Pan Handle. It also is possible he did not care for a track rated wet-fast.

“It was my fault,” Todd said. “Just throw the race out. He’s perfect at the Mile distance and he worked great over the track last week.”

Todd was referring to Five Star General’s half-mile work in 46 seconds on Thursday at Emerald.

Amazonian, who won the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks last year, has raced only once since she finished third in the Grade 3, $100,000 Ballerina on Sept. 28 at Hastings.

It was not a good effort as she finished last going 6 1/2 furlongs in a conditioned allowance race with a $50,000 claiming option on Aug. 16.

“It did not help that she broke through gate before the start,” Todd said.

Amazonian came from well back in the Oaks and should have speed to run at in the Distaff.

“I like the way the race sets up,” said Todd, who also was pleased that the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred by Malibu Moon drew the outside post in the seven-horse field.

“She can get a bit wound up in the gate, so it’s a real plus she will be loaded last,” he said.

As for being ready to fire a big shot with just one dull sprint behind her, Todd said, “She’s fit enough to run from here to Chicago.”

◗ The Blaine Wright-trained Oh Marvelous Me is the horse to beat in Wednesday’s feature. The conditioned allowance race that carries a $30,000 claiming option goes as race 9. The 10-race card begins at 2:27 p.m. Pacific.