Ben's Cat, who parlayed a strong second-place finish in last year’s Parx Dash Stakes into a victory in the grade III Turf Monster Handicap at the Pennsylvania track two races later, is one of nine entered in this year’s $150,000 Parx Dash at five furlongs on the turf June 17.
The Dash, for 3-year-olds and up, is slated as race eight.
Ben’s Cat, owned by The Jim Stable and bred and trained by King Leatherbury, has won eight turf stakes and 15 races overall in 23 starts. The 6-year-old Maryland-bred gelding by Parker's Storm Cat has excelled at sprinting on the grass but also has won on dirt.
After a strong 2011 in which he won six of 11 starts, Ben’s Cat returned to the races April 7 and won as the heavy favorite in the Mister Diz Stakes, a five-furlong turf test at Pimlico Race Course. In two subsequent races, however, Ben’s Cat encountered trouble or was too far back early to make an impact.
He will seek to get back on track in the Dash, which attracted a strong field of nine. Julien Pimentel, the gelding’s regular rider in 2010, is back aboard at 120 pounds from post 8.
$150,000 Parx Dash Stakes (Race 8, 3:22 p.m. EDT), 3 YO & Up, Five Furlongs (Turf)
PP., Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Cactus Son (KY), J Rocco Jr., 117, K P Smith
2. Perfect Officer (KY), J Castellano, 120, A W Dutrow
3. Ju Jitsu Jax (FL), no rider named, 117, H E Wolfendale
4. Poseidon's Warrior (MD), F Pennington, 116, R E Reid Jr.
5. Wild Memories (FL), R Chiappe, 110, J G Guerrero
6. Super Chunky (FL), M Franklin, 117, K M Cox
7. Latigo Shore (KY), M Guidry, 114, R W Werner
8. Ben's Cat (MD), J Pimentel, 120, K T Leatherbury
9. Bridgetown (FL), J R Velazquez, 121, T A Pletcher