Benson, 21, Seeks First Saratoga Victory

Liam Benson, a 21-year-old student of the University of Louisville's Equine Industry Program, is preparing for what he hopes to be the biggest victory of his training career when he saddles Expected Ruler in the $100,000 Quick Call Stakes Aug. 4 at Saratoga Race Course.

Not only is Benson chasing his first Saratoga stakes win, but his first visit to the winner's circle at the prestigious upstate track.

"It would be on another level," said Benson, who trains Expected Ruler for his father, breeder Liam F. Benson. "It's Saratoga. The name speaks for itself. The atmosphere, the town, and the backstretch have history everywhere, and to be an ant in the whole grand scheme of it all would be unbelievable.

"I get that it's only a $100,000 stakes, but to win it would be everything right now. Even if we hit the board, I'll be over the moon. I'm at Saratoga for a stakes race with a horse that has a shot. That's stuff you grow up thinking and dreaming about."

Expected Ruler gave the young trainer his lone stakes victory last summer when he pulled off a 47-1 upset in Monmouth Park's Tyro Stakes, the Florida-bred son of Leroidesanimaux's first start.

"I was going nuts," Benson said. "I expected the horse to run a big one but honestly I didn't know he had that in him. I thought that a big race from him would be to hit the board, but he had other plans. It was a tremendous effort."

Expected Ruler kicked off his 3-year-old campaign in the Feb. 27 Texas Glitter Stakes at Gulfstream Park, where he was a well-beaten sixth behind Manhattan Dan. He followed his off-the-board effort with an allowance victory on the Keeneland turf on April 15, where he was 16-1. That week leading up to the race, Benson was driving back-and-forth from Louisville to Lexington every day to oversee the horse's training, while also having to attend class.

"That was a grind," Benson said. "It was tricky, but I suppose it was just a commute to work. Some have to drive further than others. It was worth it though. I was driving to Keeneland to work every day and to say that is a pretty cool thing to think about."

Expected Ruler missed next out with a seventh-place finish in the Jim McKay Turf Sprint May 20, when he finished 6 1/4 lengths behind veteran Ben's Cat. He was most recently a fourth in the Select Stakes at Monmouth June 12.

"The spot in Maryland was tough and he ran his eyeballs out," Benson said. "He cut his leg open at Monmouth so we're putting a line through that race. We stitched him up, gave him two weeks off, and he's been working great."

Jockey Didiel Osorio will ship from Ellis Park for Thursday's race, the ninth on Saratoga's 10-race program.