Sat: G3 $200K Parx Dash
Jul 8, 2014 8:04:34 GMT -5
Post by Evelyn on Jul 8, 2014 8:04:34 GMT -5
Go Benny! One for the elders! LOL He's only $15,000 away from 2M. Not bad for this guy!
Ben's Cat bids for three-peat in Parx Dash
Brisnet
Ben's Cat tackled Tightend Touchdown to defend his title in 2013 (Barbara Weidl/Equi-Photo
Maryland icon Ben's Cat, only fourth in the Grade 3 Jaipur in his first try at Belmont Park June 7, aims to rebound on familiar territory in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Parx Dash. The eight-year-old veteran has won the past two editions of the five-furlong sprint on the Parx turf, where he set the course record of :54.96 in the 2012 running.
Bred, owned, and trained by a fellow legend in King Leatherbury, Ben's Cat is less than $15,000 away from the $2 million mark in career earnings. He has earned that bankroll by dominating the Mid-Atlantic scene with 21 career stakes victories, four here at Parx. Aside from his status as the two-time defending champion in the Parx Dash, he also won two straight renewals of the Grade 3 Turf Monster Handicap at this course and distance in 2011-12.
Ben's Cat attempted a Turf Monster three-peat last September, but ended up a rallying third to Stormofthecentury and Tightend Touchdown, both of whom he meets again Saturday. Regular rider Julian Pimentel will be back aboard the popular veteran, who had won three straight before his reverse at Belmont.
Tightend Touchdown rates as the 123-pound highweight, assigned one pound more than Ben's Cat. Runner-up in both of his previous Parx appearances last year, Tightend Touchdown was just run down by Ben's Cat in the Dash and by Stormofthecentury in the Turf Monster. The Jason Servis charge capped his breakout season with an excellent dead-heat second in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, succumbing only to the reigning champion Mizdirection.
Although he made his name as a pace factor, Tightend Touchdown showed a new dimension last time out, closing to score a repeat win in the May 31 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup at Penn National. That newfound versatility could serve him well in a race loaded with early speed. Kendrick Carmouche regains the mount and figures to save ground from post 2.
Stormofthecentury, who sprang a 28-1 upset in his stakes debut in the Turf Monster, could be rounding into that form in his third start off the layoff. Seventh to Marchman in his reappearance in the Grade 3 Twin Spires Turf Sprint May 2, Stormofthecentury improved to finish a hard-charging second to Tightend Touchdown in his latest at Penn.
Marchman has been a revelation this campaign for Bret Calhoun. The Sharp Humor colt wired the Grade 3 Shakertown at Keeneland April 12 and pressed the pace en route to a 1 1/2-length decision over Undrafted in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint. A stumble at the start of the Jaipur might have been costly, for he was outfinished by Undrafted and settled for second. The cutback from six to five furlongs could suit him better. Robby Albarado will guide the speedy colt from the far outside post 10.
Another son of Sharp Humor, Sharp Sensation, invades from Woodbine. The Reade Baker gelding has already raided Pennsylvania successfully, capturing the June 9 Karl Boyes Memorial in a track-record 1:02.10 for 5 1/2 furlongs over Presque Isle's Tapeta. Sharp Sensation has raced exclusively on synthetic surfaces so far, though, and will try turf for the first time.
Bold Thunder led throughout in the Silks Run at Gulfstream back in February, but the front runner was overhauled by Tightend Touchdown and Stormofthecentury in the Pennsylvania Governor's Cup, and faces a task to reverse the form. He will likely have company early, thanks to the rail-drawn Mongolian Saturday and the mare Quality Lass, who was all heart to prevail in the June 8 Satin and Lace at Presque Isle. Atlantic Seaboard and This Ain't No Bull have also flashed speed versus lesser.
Ben's Cat bids for three-peat in Parx Dash
Brisnet
Ben's Cat tackled Tightend Touchdown to defend his title in 2013 (Barbara Weidl/Equi-Photo
Maryland icon Ben's Cat, only fourth in the Grade 3 Jaipur in his first try at Belmont Park June 7, aims to rebound on familiar territory in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Parx Dash. The eight-year-old veteran has won the past two editions of the five-furlong sprint on the Parx turf, where he set the course record of :54.96 in the 2012 running.
Bred, owned, and trained by a fellow legend in King Leatherbury, Ben's Cat is less than $15,000 away from the $2 million mark in career earnings. He has earned that bankroll by dominating the Mid-Atlantic scene with 21 career stakes victories, four here at Parx. Aside from his status as the two-time defending champion in the Parx Dash, he also won two straight renewals of the Grade 3 Turf Monster Handicap at this course and distance in 2011-12.
Ben's Cat attempted a Turf Monster three-peat last September, but ended up a rallying third to Stormofthecentury and Tightend Touchdown, both of whom he meets again Saturday. Regular rider Julian Pimentel will be back aboard the popular veteran, who had won three straight before his reverse at Belmont.
Tightend Touchdown rates as the 123-pound highweight, assigned one pound more than Ben's Cat. Runner-up in both of his previous Parx appearances last year, Tightend Touchdown was just run down by Ben's Cat in the Dash and by Stormofthecentury in the Turf Monster. The Jason Servis charge capped his breakout season with an excellent dead-heat second in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, succumbing only to the reigning champion Mizdirection.
Although he made his name as a pace factor, Tightend Touchdown showed a new dimension last time out, closing to score a repeat win in the May 31 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup at Penn National. That newfound versatility could serve him well in a race loaded with early speed. Kendrick Carmouche regains the mount and figures to save ground from post 2.
Stormofthecentury, who sprang a 28-1 upset in his stakes debut in the Turf Monster, could be rounding into that form in his third start off the layoff. Seventh to Marchman in his reappearance in the Grade 3 Twin Spires Turf Sprint May 2, Stormofthecentury improved to finish a hard-charging second to Tightend Touchdown in his latest at Penn.
Marchman has been a revelation this campaign for Bret Calhoun. The Sharp Humor colt wired the Grade 3 Shakertown at Keeneland April 12 and pressed the pace en route to a 1 1/2-length decision over Undrafted in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint. A stumble at the start of the Jaipur might have been costly, for he was outfinished by Undrafted and settled for second. The cutback from six to five furlongs could suit him better. Robby Albarado will guide the speedy colt from the far outside post 10.
Another son of Sharp Humor, Sharp Sensation, invades from Woodbine. The Reade Baker gelding has already raided Pennsylvania successfully, capturing the June 9 Karl Boyes Memorial in a track-record 1:02.10 for 5 1/2 furlongs over Presque Isle's Tapeta. Sharp Sensation has raced exclusively on synthetic surfaces so far, though, and will try turf for the first time.
Bold Thunder led throughout in the Silks Run at Gulfstream back in February, but the front runner was overhauled by Tightend Touchdown and Stormofthecentury in the Pennsylvania Governor's Cup, and faces a task to reverse the form. He will likely have company early, thanks to the rail-drawn Mongolian Saturday and the mare Quality Lass, who was all heart to prevail in the June 8 Satin and Lace at Presque Isle. Atlantic Seaboard and This Ain't No Bull have also flashed speed versus lesser.