King T. Leatherbury's homebred gelding Ben's Cat was named 2012 Maryland-bred Horse of the Year in the annual poll conducted by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association.
It was his second straight Horse of the Year title. Ben's Cat (Parker's Storm Cat--Twofox, by Thirty Eight Paces) also took the 2012 title as champion turf runner for the third consecutive year and repeated as champion older male.
Unraced at ages 2 and 3, Ben's Cat has been a multiple stakes winner during each of his three seasons on the track, compiling a record of 19 wins and four placings in 29 starts and earnings of more than $1.3 million.
Following are Maryland's other equine champions for 2012:
2-year-old male: Alpha Mike Foxtrot (Two Punch--Shashobegon, by Broad Brush). Bred by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman and Richard Small; owned by Larry Knight Jr.
2-year-old filly: Mystic Love (Not For Love--Memories of Mystic, by Dixie Union). Bred by Dark Hollow Farm; owned by John Davison.
3-year-old male: Bellefire (Proud Citizen--Lovely Langfuhr, by Langfuhr ). Bred and owned by Joe Balsamo.
3-year-old filly: Jazzy Idea (Great Notion --Jazz Band, by Dixieland Band). Bred by Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Merryman; owned Edwin Merryman.
Older female: Bold Affair (Two Punch--Hunka Hunka Lori Z, by Colonial Affair). Bred and owned by Charles Reed and Michael Zanella.
Sprinter: Action Andy (2007, Gators N Bears--Love Me Twice, by Not For Love). Bred by Carol Kaye-Garcia; owned by Robert Gerczak..
Steeplechaser: Incomplete (Press Card--Sioux Lady, by Poker). Bred by Hugo Procopio; owned by Robert A. Kinsley.
