BEN’S CAT SEEKS SEVENTH STRAIGHT SCORE IN SATURDAY’S FIND HANDICAP
LAUREL, MD. 10-28-10---King Leatherbury’s rags-to-riches star Ben’s Cat seeks to remain undefeated when he meets eight runners in the 1-1/8th mile Find Handicap, the feature offering on Saturday at Laurel Park. The $50,000 race is the middle leg of Laurel’s All Turf Pick 3 wager that ends the 10-race card.
Ben’s Cat (2-1) broke his hip before making his first start, which finally began on May 8 when he defeated maiden claimers at Pimlico. Leatherbury had still not realized the star potential of his 4-year-old home-bred when he wheeled him back against $25,000 claimers at Delaware Park. A victory that day was followed by another at Delaware in July. Then the son of Parker’s Storm Cat reeled off three straight victories at Laurel, including impressive scores in the Mister Diz Stakes and the Maryland Million Turf Sprint Handicap. Julian Pimentel has been aboard for five of Ben’s Cat’s six victories and retains the mount.
“We’ve changed the exercise program for his first route assignment,” said Leatherbury, who ranks third on the all-time win list with 6,307 career wins. “I think the distance will be okay. Sooner or later, we wanted to stretch him out. I didn’t want to go from six furlongs to 1-1/8 miles right away, but with the race being for Maryland-breds and turf season winding down, we have to go in this spot. We won’t have any excuses.”
Eight-time turf winner Baltimore Bob is the second choice at 5-2. The J.B. Secor trainee has raced exclusively against stakes company this year, winning both the Henry Clark Stakes at Pimlico and the Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs, both on the turf. Vladimir Diaz retains the mount on the son of Malibu Moon.
Maryland Million Classic victor Regal Solo is third choice on the morning line at 9-2 but his connections are hoping the race comes off the turf. Regal Solo, who was claimed last year by trainer Damon Dilodovico for $40,000, is winless in three starts on the infield but is seven for 24 on the main track, including two-for-three this year. Sheldon Russell has the assignment on the son of Louis Quatorze.
Another who is winless on the grass but who does his best running on the main track is In The Juice (5-1), who won the HPBA Governor’s Cup Handicap at Charles Town in his most recent start. That victory followed a fourth place finish as the even money favorite behind Regal Solo in the Maryland Million Classic. Both races were at Saturday’s distance. Oliver Castillo keeps the mount.
Sarto (20-1) won this race a year ago when it came off the turf and was contested on the main track, beating In the Juice by a length and a quarter. The son of Dixie Union has not won since and has changed barns going to Matthew Moran from the Edwin Merryman stable.
Sandbagin’ Lover (12-1), who chased Ben’s Cat in his past two starts, along with Scatter the Tak (12-1), Court Band (15-1) and Lucky Will (20-1) complete the line-up.
HAILTOTHEREDSKINS WINS THURSDAY OPENER; HELLO D. NGATA THIRD IN RACE 4
Laurel Park is located in-between Baltimore and Washington D.C. and both markets are passionate about their NFL teams. Thursday afternoon’s card featured runners with ties to both the Washington Redskins and the Baltimore Ravens.
Hail to the Redskins has been the Redskins the fight song since 1938. Hailtotheredskins, a 3-year-old gelding by Chapel Royal, took the opener by 3-3/4 lengths with leading rider Forest Boyce for trainer Damon Dilodovico.
Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Haloti Ngata is one of the league’s top young players. Hello D. Ngata finished third in the fourth race at odds of 6-1. The 2-year-old son of Dance With Ravens finished fourth in the Maryland Million Nursery earlier this month.
-mjc-
Mike Gathagan
Vice President-Communications
Maryland Jockey Club
410-578-4461 (Pimlico)
301-470-5461 (Laurel Park)
240-876-7403 (Mobile)
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