HOORAY FOR BEN'S CAT!! Winner of the Jim McKay Stakes
May 16, 2014 17:29:33 GMT -5
Post by Evelyn on May 16, 2014 17:29:33 GMT -5
I love rooting for this 8 year old. He looked fantastic today. It was an excellent win. Also good to see his 81 yr old trainer, Leatherbury win at home with a horse he bred, raised, nuirsed back to health, owns and trains. HRTV said he was 4th in total trainer wins. Why is he not in the HOF? Is the HOF only for the rich guys?
Ben's Cat Shows Class in Jim McKay Triumph
By Jack Shinar
Bloodhorse
Photo: Rick Samuels
Ben's Cat who won the Jim McKay Turf Sprint for the third time in four years.
The $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint was moved to the main track after heavy earlier rain in Baltimore, but it made little difference to Ben's Cat, who won the event for the third time in four years at Pimlico Race Course May 16 (VIDEO).
The Maryland-bred 8-year-old legend notched the 21st stakes victory of his career on the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes undercard and his 26th lifetime win overall in 39 starts. All-time leading Maryland trainer King Leatherbury bred the son of Parker's Storm Cat--Twofox, by Thirty Eight Paces, and campaigns him in the colors of The Jim Stable.
With Julian Pimentel aboard, 2-5 favorite Ben's Cat tracked pacesetter Great Attack on a drying out main track rated good, poking his head in front at the eighth pole. He drew off over a stubborn Great Attack to win by 1 3/4 lengths in a time of :57.75.
Great Attack posted quarter mile fractions of :22.67 and :45.43 under Kendrick Carmouche and finished 2 3/4 lengths in front of Smash and Grab, guided by Jevian Toledo. Smash and Grab, the 5-2 second choice in a field reduced to five by the surface switch, was expected to set the pace but was off slowly.
Ben's Cat first won the listed Jim McKay Turf Sprint in 2011 and repeated in 2013 after finishing fifth in the 2012 renewal. Primarily a turf runner, of course, the dark bay gelding has won four of five lifetime starts on a wet track and is 10-for-14 overall on dirt.
Boosting his career earnings to $1,967,990, the heavy choice carried 118 pounds and returned $2.80, $2.20, and $2.10 to bettors. Great Attack paid $3 and $2.20, completing a $7.60 exacta, while Smash and Grab paid $2.10. A P Elvis and Agonistic, who stumbled at the start, trailed. Scratched were Bold Thunder, This Ain't No Bull, Wicked Tune, and Spring to the Sky.
Ben's Cat Shows Class in Jim McKay Triumph
By Jack Shinar
Bloodhorse
Photo: Rick Samuels
Ben's Cat who won the Jim McKay Turf Sprint for the third time in four years.
The $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint was moved to the main track after heavy earlier rain in Baltimore, but it made little difference to Ben's Cat, who won the event for the third time in four years at Pimlico Race Course May 16 (VIDEO).
The Maryland-bred 8-year-old legend notched the 21st stakes victory of his career on the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes undercard and his 26th lifetime win overall in 39 starts. All-time leading Maryland trainer King Leatherbury bred the son of Parker's Storm Cat--Twofox, by Thirty Eight Paces, and campaigns him in the colors of The Jim Stable.
With Julian Pimentel aboard, 2-5 favorite Ben's Cat tracked pacesetter Great Attack on a drying out main track rated good, poking his head in front at the eighth pole. He drew off over a stubborn Great Attack to win by 1 3/4 lengths in a time of :57.75.
Great Attack posted quarter mile fractions of :22.67 and :45.43 under Kendrick Carmouche and finished 2 3/4 lengths in front of Smash and Grab, guided by Jevian Toledo. Smash and Grab, the 5-2 second choice in a field reduced to five by the surface switch, was expected to set the pace but was off slowly.
Ben's Cat first won the listed Jim McKay Turf Sprint in 2011 and repeated in 2013 after finishing fifth in the 2012 renewal. Primarily a turf runner, of course, the dark bay gelding has won four of five lifetime starts on a wet track and is 10-for-14 overall on dirt.
Boosting his career earnings to $1,967,990, the heavy choice carried 118 pounds and returned $2.80, $2.20, and $2.10 to bettors. Great Attack paid $3 and $2.20, completing a $7.60 exacta, while Smash and Grab paid $2.10. A P Elvis and Agonistic, who stumbled at the start, trailed. Scratched were Bold Thunder, This Ain't No Bull, Wicked Tune, and Spring to the Sky.
