Strong finish earns Ben’s Cat the inaugural running of the Fabulous Strike Handicap
The 6-year-old gelded son of Parker’s Storm Cat, Ben’s Cat did it again, as he does so often, win on regular basis, and this time he turned in one screaming mid-stretch rally to win the inaugural running of the $200,000 Fabulous Strike Handicap at Penn National
Race Course on 21 November, 2012, under his usual jockey Julian Pimentel.
Odds of nearly 6 to 1, Ben’s Cat stalked the pace in the early stages of the race, a field consisting of 9, 3-year-olds and upward. Riding along the two path through the turn, Julian Pimentel shook his horse loose, and Ben’s Cat responded in style, as he
rallied in the stretch that helped him reach the line a head in front of the runner-up, Immortal Eyes.
Out of Thirty Eight Paces mare Twofox, Ben’s Cat won his 19th lifetime start out of 29 starts and with the winning purse of $111,200, Ben’s Cat shot up his bankroll to $1,357,290.
In the Fabulous Strike Handicap, Immortal Eyes shot to the lead and carved fractions of 22.11 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, 44.51 seconds for half-mile in the six furlong sprint, as Ben’s Cat race mid-pack.
Ben’s Cat lacking for room was forced out wide, and he was desperate for and opening that he found when Philly Bound weakened and Ben’s Cat cashed in, and on the inside made his final bid to the wire.
It was a full drive finish from Ben’s Cat, as she reeled in a determined Immortal Eyes, and head bobbed the runner-up under right-handed urging.
"I knew he was raring to run and down the backside Julian had plenty of horse under him. He got in a little tight quarters, I thought he was going to stay on the inside. He swung to the outside and had a wall of horses in front of him. Once he got through,
he went on very nicely. He wins these close races, which is good, but a little scary when you're watching! He's a remarkable horse, what can I say."
Poseidon’s Warrior finished third, only by three-quarters of a length behind Immoral Eyes, while the 2 to 1 choice, Il Vilano finished fourth.
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