For Immediate Release: Friday, July 5, 2013
BEN’S CAT AMAZES YET AGAIN IN WINNING PARX DASH Seven Year-Old Wins 22nd Career Race
There are almost no superlatives left to describe the sensation that has become Ben’s Cat. Now a seven year-old, the gelded son of Parker’s Storm Cat, throughout his career has done nothing but win, finding his niche as one of the nation’s premier turf sprinters. Coming into the G3 Parx Dash Friday afternoon at Parx Racing, he’d won an astounding 21 of 32 lifetime starts – that’s not a misprint – and yet went to the gate as the second choice in the wagering behind a lightning bolt named Tightend Touchdown. When the day was done, Ben’s Cat had done what he’d done so many times before. He rallied from off the pace, caught the front running speedsters before the wire, and then pulled away for the 22nd win of his stellar career.
Breaking from the outside gate in the field of six, Ben’s Cat showed very little speed, was almost immediately taken down to the rail by winning jockey Julian Pimentel and was quickly nine lengths behind the early leader, longshot Wild Memories. “I knew we’d be pretty far back,” remarked Pimentel. “When I looked at the race I saw a ton of speed and knew they’d be going fast.” On a course that was labeled firm, but was more likely good to yielding, Wild Memories shot through the opening quarter in 22.19 with 4-5 race favorite Tightend Touchdown three lengths back and in hot pursuit. After the first furlong Ben’s Cat was in front of just one horse. Things hadn’t changed much by the time they hit the far turn. Wild Memories still led by three and Ben’s Cat was still a good eight lengths behind.
Rounding the far turn, however, the complexion began to change. Wild Memories started to come back to the field, Tightend Touchdown was making his run and along the rail, Ben’s Cat was quickly gathering momentum. “If you don’t get into him, he will linger,” said Pimentel. “But once you ask him to run, he just takes off.” And take off he did. Coming to the eighth pole, Wild Memories was spent and Tightend Touchdown had taken the lead. Ben’s Cat was really rolling now and coming off the turn, Pimentel moved him to the middle of the course to take aim at the leader. Gaining with virtually every stride, Ben’s Cat surged to the front just inside the final sixteenth and then drew away to win by a final margin of a length and a quarter.
Racing for The Jim Stable and legendary trainer King Leatherbury, Ben’s Cat went off at 6-5 and paid 4.60, 2.20 and 2.10. It was his second straight win in the Parx Dash and fourth in five starts over the local course. Tightend Touchdown settled for second and returned 2.20 and 2.10. It was six lengths back to third finisher Bridgetown who paid 2.20 to show. The final time was :59.43.
