Ben's Cat Seeks Fifth McKay Turf Sprint Win

The Jim Stable's Ben's Cat, a winner in his 10-year-old debut in a May 1 allowance contest at Laurel Park, will hope to keep the momentum going in the $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint May 20 at Pimlico Race Course.

Ben's Cat, bred and owned by trainer King Leatherbury, has won the McKay Turf Sprint four times as part of his 31-win career. The Maryland-bred gelding by Parker's Storm Cat will face familiar competition as well as Mike Sanchez's Rocket Heat, an impressive gate-to-wire winner of the May 6 Turf Sprint (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs.

Ben's Cat overcame a wide trip in the Laurel allowance event run at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. The McKay Turf Sprint is at five furlongs on the grass; the gelding has won 14 of 25 starts at the distance.

"He was bothered all the way around the turn but still kicked in with that same response of his and got the money," Leatherbury said of the Laurel effort. "That was absolutely fantastic, I thought, under the circumstances. He's doing good, and everything's in order.

"I'm expecting a big effort. We'll see. This is the race we point for and this is the perfect race for him. Everything's right, the right timing and it's not a big enough purse to draw any superstars."

Trevor McCarthy, who rode Ben's Cat for the first time May 1, has a return call. Last year Ben's Cat won the McKay from off the pace in a sharp :56.04 on a firm course.

Rocket Heat, a 4-year-old Latent Heat gelding, shipped from California for the Turf Sprint at Churchill and dominated the five-furlong event in :56.47 on turf rated firm. Flavien Prat, who rode him at Churchill, is named to ride at Pimlico for trainer Vann Belvoir.