Ben's Cat adds $60k to BC fund-raising..

Kasept · #1 10-01-2011, 01:30 PM

King Leatherbury and Ben's Cat got $60k closer to BC Turf Sprint today with a win in the MD Million... Should make it easier for King to raise the balance to get to Churchill.

Kasept · #2 10-01-2011, 01:52 PM

BEN’S CAT REPEATS IN MARYLAND MILLION TURF SPRINT

LAUREL, MD. 10-01-11---The Jim Stable’s Ben’s Cat launched his patented late burst to win the $100,000 Jim McKay Maryland Million Turf Sprint at Laurel Park for the second straight year.

Jeremy Rose was aboard the son of Parker’s Storm Cat, who was bred by his owner-trainer, the legendary Maryland conditioner King Leatherbury. Ben’s Cat won by a length over Steady Warrior, who fought the winner all the way to the finish line. Longshot Heaven’s Voice was another ten lengths farther back in third. Front running Disco Dandy finished last.

“I got afraid that we might get upset but Jeremy Rose wasn’t worried,” said Leatherbury, who ranks third on the all-time win list with 6,326 career victories. “He said he knew he had the horse but the other horse was very reluctant to get beat. We knew the four (Disco Dandy) was going to go to the front but we left it to Jeremy to use his own judgment on that.”

Ben’s Cat, who stopped the clock in 1:06.07, paid $3 as the 1-2 betting favorite. He was winning for the thirteenth time in eighteen starts, the seventh time on the turf and taking down his eighth stakes victory. His lifetime earnings are now $733,230.

“It was a pretty easy race,” Rose said. “We broke sharp today. At the last race we had a spat in the gate and I was concerned about today, but this time he broke better than usual and I thought that I had it won every step of the race.”

The five-year-old captured the Turf Monster Handicap (G3) at Parx Racing on Labor Day, which earned an automatic berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G2) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5. as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series. However Ben’s Cat is not Breeders’ Cup nominated, so Leatherbury is looking for an investor to flip the bill on the $100,000 supplemental fee.
“We will start to get more serious on it now and see what we can do,” added Leatherbury.

“He is one of the best three horses that I have ever ridden, said Rose, who won the 2005 Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes aboard Afleet Alex. “He certainly deserves a shot at the Breeders’ Cup.”

The son of Parker’s Storm Cat had to recover from a broken pelvis before he made his maiden debut at age four, then began his career with eight consecutive victories, which included a 4 ½ length score in the 2010 Turf Sprint. Only six runners faced Ben’s Cat, who carried 123 pounds, nine to 12 more than his rivals.
“I thought we would be a little closer today as he’s been sharp in training,” said Leatherbury. “He used his same running style turning for home. I thought we had it but then the six horse (Steady Warrior) came back at him again. We were giving away ten pounds. He never wins big. I am very pleased right now.”

Leatherbury is now tied atop the Maryland Million standings with nine victories, the same as Dale Capuano.

Rose has 13 Maryland Million scores, fourth on the all-time list, trailing only Ramon Dominguez (17), Mario Pino (16) and Hall of Famer Edgar Prado (16). Other Hall of Famers with Maryland Million victories are Jerry Bailey, Kent Desormeaux, Julie Krone, Eddie Maple, Chris McCarron, Laffit Pincay, Mike Smith, Gary Stevens and Jorge Velasquez.

Sightseek · #3 10-02-2011, 02:30 PM

He struts like Zenyatta in the paddock - surely that is worth $40K to someone?

Fun little day that Laurel put together yesterday, unfortunately the rain killed the extra activities they had going on beside the paddock.

Sightseek · #4 10-02-2011, 02:34 PM

Also, it looks like the thread died during the server upgrade, but I think it was Hockey that said Glib looked to be an interesting horse. Well done.

He was 12-1 about 3 minutes to post and 5-1 breaking from the gate.

hockey2315 · #5 10-02-2011, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Also, it looks like the thread died during the server upgrade, but I think it was Hockey that said Glib looked to be an interesting horse. Well done.

He was 12-1 about 3 minutes to post and 5-1 breaking from the gate.

Ya. . . that was annoying. . . he opened up at 18-1 and I was counting my money. I tried to put together some people to buy him, but it didn't get very far. I loved his debut and think his sire is incredibly undervalued.