Ben's Cat can hit $2M in earnings with on-the-board finish in Jaipur Invitational

Of all the noteworthy horses on Saturday’s star-studded card at Belmont, the most prolific winner is Ben’s Cat, the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the Grade 3 Jaipur Invitational.

The Jaipur had its purse doubled this year to $300,000 and has been shortened to six furlongs for the first time since 2010. It is scheduled for the inner turf.

Ben’s Cat started the season by notching the 25th and 26th victories of his remarkable career, taking the Mister Diz for a fifth time, followed by his third straight Jim McKay Turf Sprint, which was rained off the grass.

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Making his 40th career start in the Jaipur, Ben’s Cat can surpass $2 million in earnings with a top-three finish; only California Chrome ($3.452 million), Beholder ($3.123 million), and Goldencents ($1.994 million) have banked more among Saturday’s stakes stars.[bc_video_id:326584:]

In his only previous New York start, Ben’s Cat was second in the Forty Niner overnight stakes on Aqueduct’s inner dirt Dec. 19, 2010, his first loss after eight victories.

“I’ve run out of material talking about him,” said King Leatherbury, the legendary Maryland horseman who bred, owns, and trains the vintage 8-year-old. “We say it every year: ‘He’s better than ever.’ How long can we say that?”

If the speedy Marriedtothemusic, who has never run on turf, opts instead for Friday’s True North Stakes on the main track, Marchman could inherit the role of pacesetter after breaking on top and grinding out wins in both the Shakertown Stakes and Twin Spires Turf Sprint.

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“He broke sharp. I think that was key,” said trainer Bret Calhoun. “He’s in very good form.”

Stretch threats include Undrafted, a fast-closing second in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint for owner and football star Wes Welker and trainer Wesley Ward, and Salto, a Pletcher-trained horse turning back from routes who won on soft turf twice overseas.