Ben's Cat 'Fine' After Parx Dash Foray
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Mid-Atlantic star gelding Ben's Cat, who has earned nearly $2.5 million, has returned to Laurel Park after finishing what his trainer described as a "very disappointing" sixth in the Parx Dash Handicap (gr. IIIT) July 11.
Seeking his 25th career stakes win and his fourth consecutive Parx Dash victory, the 9-year-old son of Parker's Storm Cat broke ninth before launching a mild rally and finishing sixth.
"It was very disappointing," owner-breeder-trainer King Leatherbury said the morning of July 12. "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 Racing Hall of Fame Aug. 7, said he was considering the $300,000 Turf Monster (gr. IIIT) at Parx Racing, "but that's seven weeks away and I don't know if I want to wait that long."