Ben's Cat Still After Third Turf Monster Win

Second and third in the Turf Monster (gr. IIIT) the last two years after winning in 2011 and 2012, Ben's Cat takes on eight runners in this year's edition as he pursues a third win in the Parx Racing event Sept. 7.

 

The $300,000 Turf Monster, at five furlongs, is carded as race 9 on the 10-race Labor Day card that also includes the $200,000 Greenwood Cup (gr. III) and $200,000 Turf Amazon Handicap. Post time for the Turf Monster is 4:31 p.m. EDT.

 

Owned, bred, and trained by Hall of Famer King Leatherbury, 9-year-old Ben's Cat is the 121-pound co-highweight along with Sharp Sensation, who at 16-1 odds in last year's race denied him a third Turf Monster win by just a neck. Ben's Cat bobbled and was steadied on the turn, losing momentum while rider Julien Pimentel struggled to regain a lost left rein, then just missed in a close finish. 

 

In his most recent start, Ben's Cat captured the Mister Diz Stakes at Laurel Park for a sixth straight year Aug. 22 while scoring his 30th victory overall from 50 starts in a remarkable career that has seen him bankroll more than $2.4 million. 

 

Jim and Susan Hill's Sharp Sensation exits a heartbreaking nose loss July 27 in the Lucky Coin Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, where he was caught in the final stride. 

 

Amelia's Wild Ride, who defeated Ben's Cat to win the Pennsylvania Governor's Cup May 30 and was third in the Lucky Coin, and Tightend Touchdown, recent victor in the Parx Dash (gr. IIIT), are both assigned 120 pounds.

 

In the Turf Amazon also at five furlongs, Richies Party Girl will bid for her first victory in nearly a year as the 120-pound highweight. Richard Ravin and Wesley Ward's 4-year-old Any Given Saturday filly is winless in four starts since capturing the Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint Stakes last September at Kentucky Downs to cap her season. She has a second and a third this year, both going five furlongs on the Churchill Downs turf course.