Ben’s Cat won the Turf Monster Handicap after a late yet powerful surge
Late charge from King Leatherbury trained 5-year-old gelding Ben’s Cat, earned him a half length victory in the $350,000 Grade 3 Turf Monster Handicap on 5 September, 2011, at Parx Racing, and also a trip to Churchill Downs to participate in the Grade 2
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
The five furlong test at Parx Racing is part of the “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup series and the sprint will be held on 5 November, 2011.
The son of Parker’s Storm Cat, out of Twofox by Thirty Eight Paces, Ben’s Cat has been in stellar form throughout the year 2011.
It didn’t start well for the experienced gelding, but the cut back in distance from a mile to 5 and once 7 furlongs did him a world of good.
Ben’s Cat has now won 4 races on the trot, with one on dirt and the last three races on turf respectively, managing a 50 percent record this year with four wins out of eight starts.
Also bred and owned by King Leatherbury, Ben’s Cat was kept from racing until he got 4-years-old, and he made up for lost time by acing the first two races of his career.
Starting off with Maryland Million Turf Sprint Handicap at Laurel Park back in 10 February, 2010 over a distance of 5 ½ furlongs.
He clung on to the winning habit and won eight of nine starts including Find Handicap also at Laurel Park and then the Mister Diz Stakes at Pimlico.
In the Turf Monster Handicap, Ben’s Cat was included in 11 horse field and he raced toward the back of them. He travelled three furlongs in the same manner under jockey Jeremy Rose as Streakin’ Mohican and Central City led the way.
Jeremy Rose pulled the gelding very wide on the turn and then back into the centre entering the stretch, persuaded Ben’s Cat to pull out one of his powerful runs and he complied with a mean gleam in his eyes.
Ben’s Cat unleashed a powerful turn of foot and he bolted through the lane, as he took on seven opponents in the stretch and claimed the race in the final strides covering the distance of five furlongs in 57.30 seconds on turf.
Ben’s Cat is now 12 out of 17 starts, boosting up his career earnings to $676,230.
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