Multiple Grade 3 veteran Ben’s Cat (Parker’s Storm Cat), the popular nine-year-old gelding who
has earned nearly $2.5 million, returned to Laurel Park after finishing what
trainer King Leatherbury described as a “very disappointing” sixth in Saturday’s Parx Dash H. (G3).
Seeking his 25th career stakes win and his
fourth consecutive Parx Dash, Ben’s Cat broke ninth before launching a mild
rally and finishing sixth. It was his first unplaced run since a fourth in last
year’s Jaipur S. (G3) and his first non-top four finish since May 2012.
“It was very disappointing,” Leatherbury said
Sunday morning. “He was sluggish early and didn’t have his usual big kick at the
end.
“He ran a bad race, and we’re not used to that. If it was a normal horse,
you’d just say he ran a bad race. But he’s not the kind that does that.
“But he’s
fine this morning and maybe it was just a bad race.”
Leatherbury, who will be inducted into the
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame on August 7, said he was
considering the $300,000 Turf Monster S. (G3) at Parx on September 7, “but that’s seven weeks away
and I don’t know if I want to wait that long.”
“We’ll just think about things the next couple
days,” he added.
Ben’s Cat captured the 2011-12 editions of the Turf Monster but has placed in
the past two runnings.
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com