Ben's Cat captures Mister Diz for sixth time

Ben’s Cat won the Mister Diz for the sixth straight year at Laurel Park on Saturday. The Mister Diz was one of four $60,000 stakes on the card for Maryland-bred or Maryland-sired runners.

Ben’s Cat came into the Mister Diz off a somewhat disappointing sixth-place finish in the Grade 3 Parx Dash. Although he was only beaten 2 1/2 lengths in that race, it was the first time he had finished off the board in more than a year.

Ben’s Cat broke sharply in the Mister Diz, but was taken back off the pace by jockey Julian Pimentel and tracked a four-horse pace battle on the far turn. Pimentel eased Ben’s Cat outside horses in upper stretch and he outfinished 5-2 second choice Night Officer to win by a half-length.

Ben’s Cat paid $2.80 as the heavy favorite in the seven-horse field. He covered 5 1/2 furlongs over firm turf in 1:02.97 following fractions of 22.45 seconds, 45.38, and 56.79. Sonny Inspired finished third, 3 1/4 lengths behind Night Officer.

Ben’s Cat, now 9, has now won 30 of 50 career starts for his owner-trainer-breeder King Leatherbury. Ben’s Cat has earned more than $2.4 million.

“I’m proud of the horse,” Leatherbury said. “He just keeps winning. I wasn’t worried at any time, but you never can tell what will happen.”

Ben’s Cat didn’t show his customary acceleration in the Mister Diz but Pimentel said he was confident throughout.

“You know how he is when he gets to the lead, he likes to look around,” he said.

Leatherbury said recently he plans to point Ben’s Cat for the Grade 3, $300,000 Turf Monster at Parx on Sept. 7.

Jameela: Monster Sleeping overtakes favorite

Monster Sleeping finished well to overtake 2-1 favorite Everything Lovely and draw off to a 2 1/4-length victory in the Jameela Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares.

Monster Sleeping finished second, beaten a neck, in last year’s Jameela. On Saturday, she raced several lengths off the pace while between horses early, then closed well to take the lead outside Everything Lovely nearing the sixteenth pole.

Monster Sleeping, 6, has won 8 of 44 starts and $401,130. Trained by Dale Capuano and ridden by Forest Boyce, Monster Sleeping paid $11.20 and was timed in 1:09.52. The Jameela was her first win since May 2014.

“It’s hard to find spots for her because she’s out of conditions,” Capuano said. “But this race fit her perfectly.”

Everything Lovely, who broke from the outside post in the 12-horse field, made the lead in upper stretch but could not keep pace with the winner. She held second by a neck over 31-1 Eddy Gourmet.

Miss Bullistic, last year’s champion Maryland-bred 2-year-old filly, finished sixth as the 7-2 third choice while making her first start of the year. Tizgale, the 3-1 second choice, raced on the pace three wide and then tired to finish eighth.

All Brandy: Joy wins photo finish

The pace of the All Brandy, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares, was slow, with Lionhearted Lady and Debbie’s Tude showing the way and second choice Vielsalm and even-money favorite Joy stalking.

Following splits of 24.53, 49.01 and 1:13.33, Vielsalm challenged three wide entering the stretch, with Joy right off her hip.

Joy took a short lead in upper stretch but Vielsalm refused to quit and came back again. At the finish, Joy won by a head.

Joy was timed in 1:49 39, following a mile in 1:37.68. Trained by Graham Motion, she paid $4.20. The All Brandy was the third win of the day for jockey Julian Pimentel.

Green Wave Girl finished third at 29-1, 4 1/4 lengths behind Vielsalm.

A year ago, Vielsalm won the All Brandy by a neck and Joy finished third, a half-length behind.

Find: Phlash Phelps keeps rolling

In his first season of racing last year, Phlash Phelps went zero for six as a 3-year-old. This year as a gelding, he is 3 for 3.

Phlash Phelps scored his first career stakes win in the Find, a 1 1/18-mile turf race for Maryland-bred or sired horses. He stalked a relatively slow pace set by 50-1 shot Capital Fellow, was shuffled back a bit between horses entering the stretch, then re-rallied to take the lead inside Roadhog in midstretch and inch off to a half-length victory.

Phlash Phelps began his year by winning a maiden turf sprint in April and an off-the-turf allowance at 1 1/16 miles in May. He is trained by Rodney Jenkins.

“We were told when we bought this horse that we’d better be patient,” he said. “The whole family are late bloomers.”

Eyeplayeveryday finished with a late bid to finish second, a length ahead of Roadhog. Talk Show Man, the 3-2 favorite, lagged far back early and then finished with a belated bid to be fourth, a length behind Roadhog.

Phlash Phelps paid $12.60 and was timed in 1:49.11 following six furlongs in 1:12.82 and a mile in 1:37.26.

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