Ben's Cat Seeks Governor's Cup

The first four finishers from the May 15 Jim McKay Turf Sprint at Pimlico Race Course will meet again in the May 30  $150,000 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup Stakes at Penn National Race Course, but all eyes will be on Ben's Cat.



Ben's Cat took the Jim McKay by a neck for his 29th career victory and 24th stakes triumph. In his second outing as a 9-year-old, the son of Parker's Storm Cat closed late to pip pacesetter Bold Thunder on the line, going the same five-furlong distance as the Governor's Cup. Bold Thunder had defeated Ben's Cat in the latter's first race of 2015, an allowance test at Pimlico over the same grassy distance.



King Leatherbury, who trains and owns Ben's Cat, will be inducted this summer into racing's Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. He has guided Ben's Cat to four graded stakes victories and lifetime earnings of just less than$2.4 million. Ben's Cat figures to do his running over the Penn National grass from off the pace and should have some targets to hone in on.



Bold Thunder has made the lead in 11 of his last 12 starts. The Governor's Cup will mark his sixth start of 2015 and he is drawn well on the outside. Snow Leopard, drawn just inside Bold Thunder, is another who can flash speed, but is used to running in softer company.



Amelia's Wild Ride ran evenly to grab third in the Jim McKay, four lengths back of the winner. He was not competitive in the Shakertown Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland in April, but did win the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint in February. He should get a good stalking position in the Governor's Cup.



Grateful Nation finished fourth in the McKay with a troubled trip, in which he checked early, sat next-to-last, and then ran on to be beaten 5 1/2 lengths.



Fabulous Kid comes into the Governor's Cup off an allowance/optional claiming victory at Parx Racing. His last stakes action came in the 2014 Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II), in which he was eased after grabbing the early lead. Last Heartbreaker can also show speed, but has been having difficulty finishing. His last turf try came more than a year ago.