Ben’s Cat to run for his sixth win in a row in the Six Bit Handicap at Penn National
King T. Leatherbury trained and in co-ownership with The Jim Stable’s Ben’s Cat has had a pretty good 2011 season, and the 5-year-old gelding is unbeaten in 5 consecutive starts, over distances ranging from 5 furlongs to 7 furlongs.
The Maryland bred gelding is now pointed toward the inaugural running of the $200,000 Six Bit Handicap at Penn National Handicap on 23 November, 2011, over at a distance of six furlongs on dirt against seven other 3-year-old and above males.
The son of Parker’s Storm Cat, out of mare Twofox by Thirty Eight Paces, Ben’s Cat has already made a trip to Penn National this season and had a successful excursion to the race course when he participated in the $200,000 Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup Handicap over at 5 furlongs on 30 July, 2011, where he defeated Cardashi and Car Thief who finished second and third, respectively.
So, Ben’s Cat shouldn’t have a problem getting used to the surroundings there because he will be returning to familiar surroundings, but one little difference will be the surface.
Ben’s Cat won the Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup on turf, and now he is going to run in the Six Bits Handicap on dirt.
Best known for his heroics on turf, Ben’s Cat will be making a rare appearance of dirt late in the season over at six furlongs, in the richest of the four on the Thanksgiving Eve Card.
Ben’s Cat is coming off a win in the Maryland Million Turf Sprint Handicap at Laurel Park race course, running over a distance of five and a half furlongs on grass, the winner kept Steady Warrior and Heaven’s Voice at bay to make them finish behind him in second and third place respectively while completing the distance in 1 minute and 6.07 seconds.
Among the 5 race winning streak, Ben’s Cat also landed a graded stakes race in his penultimate start when he downed Perfect Officer and the highly regarded sprinter Chamberlain Bridge in second and third place respectively in the Grade 3 Turf Monster Handicap at 5 furlongs on 5 September, 2011, with the winning time of 57.30 seconds.
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