BEN’S CAT MAKES IT EIGHT STRAIGHT WITH WIN IN WEDNESDAY FEATURE
LAUREL, MD. 11-24-10---The Jim Stable’s Ben’s Cat had to work for it, but when the dust cleared, the undefeated son of Parker’s Storm Cat had his annexed eighth consecutive victory in today’s $36,000 allowance feature at Laurel Park.
Sent to post at the 6-5 favorite under regular rider Julian Pimentel, Ben’s Cat had to dig in to hold off a furious late rally from longshot Fonda Ronda Won to win by a half-length.
“That was scary. He almost got beat,” said owner-trainer King Leatherbury. “The jock says that once he gets to the front then he plays around.”
Ben’s Cat completed the one mile distance in 1:39.08 and paid $4.40. Today’s win boosted his career earnings to $199,980.
He suffered a broken pelvis as a 2-year-old and did not make his first career start until six months ago at Pimlico Race Course during the spring meeting. Since then the 4-year-old won three turf stakes races at Laurel Park, capturing the Mister Diz (Aug. 21), Maryland Million Turf Sprint (Oct. 2) and Find Handicap (Oct. 30).
“You have to think he is a better turf horse,” said Leatherbury of his home-bred. “I can’t feel as good about him as I did Ah Day because this was an allowance race and he just did win. We are going to have to step up the competition next time.”
Leatherbury ranks third on the all-time win list with 6,311 career victories and has conditioned Grade 1 winners Catatonic and Taking Risks, 10-time stakes winner Ah Day and four Preakness starters.
I Know Why finished third. Southern Rainbow, Eighttofasttocatch and Grade 2 winner Golden Spikes completed the order of finish.
SATURDAY’S JENNINGS HANDICAP CANCELLED
Ben’s Cat and Eighttofasttocatch were two of six runners nominated to Saturday’s $50,000 Jennings Handicap, a 1 1/8-mile test for Maryland-breds. Only two horses, Maryland Million Classic foes Regal Solo and In The Juice entered this afternoon when the Laurel Park racing office took entries for the Nov. 27 card, causing the race to be cancelled.
-mjc-
PHOTO CREDIT-Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club
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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