Veteran millionaire Ben’s Cat tries for fourth straight Parx Dash

Ben’s Cat is looking for Parx Dash quartet (Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club)

Multiple Grade 3-scoring millionaire Ben’s Cat (Parker’s Storm Cat) is no
stranger to Parx Racing, having captured five of his 29 career wins at the
track. Three of those wins came in the
Parx
Dash, and on Saturday the nine-year-old gelding will seek to add a fourth
consecutive victory in that $200,000 Grade 3 contest to his resume.

Ben’s Cat just missed by a head when trying the Parx Dash for the first time
in 2011, scored by two lengths in the 2012 edition, captured the 2013 running
when it was first installed as a Grade 3 and posted a nose win in last year’s
contest.

Bred, trained and campaigned by King Leatherbury, Ben’s Cat has compiled
nearly $2.5 million in purse money from six seasons of racing. The dark bay
veteran enters Saturday’s Parx Dash off a nose second in the Pennsylvania
Governor’s Cup S. and keeps regular rider Julian Pimentel in the saddle.

Among those lining up against Ben’s Cat are Amelia’s Wild Ride (D’wildcat),
who defeated him in the Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup, and Bold Thunder (Bold ‘n
Flashy), who finished a neck behind in third. Those three also faced off in the
Jim McKay Turf Sprint on May 15 at Pimlico, where Ben’s Cat got the win by a
neck over Bold Thunder with Amelia’s Wild Ride another 3 3/4 lengths back in
third.