The Jim Stable’s Ben's Cat will look for his third and richest stakes win of the season when he takes on nine rivals in the $200,000 Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup Handicap July 30 at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.
Ten turf sprinters were entered in the five-furlong dash that highlights a 10-race card that gets underway at 5:30 p.m. The program also includes the $100,000 Capital City Stakes for 3-year olds over the grass and the $100,000 East Hanover Stakes for sophomores at six furlongs on the main track.
King Leatherbury has named Jeremy Rose to ride 3-1 morning line favorite Ben’s Cat. The pair teamed up to win the $50,000 Pimlico Turf Sprint on May 20, one month after they scored in the $75,000 Mister Diz Stakes in early April. The 5-year old Parker's Storm Cat gelding has earned $144,250 this year and sports a lifetime record of 10 wins from 15 starts and earnings of $356,230.
Two local trainers, and another with longtime ties to the Grantville oval, also figure prominently in the race. Tim Kreiser will saddle 2009 Governor’s Cup winner Mason Dixon Stable’s Cardashi, and also Ronald Ulrich’s Philly Bound, winner of his last two starts.
Penn National leading’s trainer Stephanie Beattie has entered the stretch-running Bubber. The 7-year old gelding rallied from far back to win his last two races in tight photo finishes at Parx Racing for owners Thomas McClay and Donald Brown Jr.
The most intriguing story belongs to Linda Rice, who sends out Awakino Cat. Rice, now a perennial leader in the New York trainer rankings, was raised at Penn National when her family dominated the racing scene in the 1970s and 1980s.
$200,000 Pa. Governor's Cup Handicap (Race 5, 7:08 p.m.), 3 & Up, Five Furlongs (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer, Odds
1. Cardashi (ON), R Rodriguez, 114, T C Kreiser, 8/1
2. Car Thief (FL), J Santiago, 114, H Hollahan, 10/1
3. Sneaking Uponyou (FL), K Carmouche, 114, J Ness, 8/1
4. Awakino Cat (KY), A Garcia, 112, L Rice 6/1
5. Ben's Cat (MD), J Rose, 119, K T Leatherbury, 3/1
6. Bubber (KY), J G Ramirez, 111, S S Beattie, 15/1
7. Local Celebrity (KY), S Russell, 115,, H I McMahon, 5/1
8. Jr's Exchange (FL), R D Allen Jr., 117, G S Bennett, 9/2
9. Philly Bound (PA), D Cora, 116, T C Kreiser, 8/1
10. Towzee (NZ), S Elliott, 114, R Allen, 20/1
