Ben's Cat takes aim at winning Fabulous Strike for fourth time

Ben’s Cat came out of his nose defeat in the Maryland Million Sprint “very well,” according to trainer King Leatherbury, and will be pointed to the $200,000 Fabulous Strike Handicap at Penn National on Thanksgiving Eve, Nov. 25.

Ben’s Cat, 9, has won the Fabulous Strike, a six-furlong main-track race, the last three years.

Ben’s Cat looked like he was headed to victory at the top of the stretch of the Sprint but couldn’t get by Jack’s in the Deck after a long stretch duel.

Ben’s Cat carried 122 pounds in the Sprint and conceded eight pounds to Jack’s in the Deck. Ben’s Cat came into the Sprint without his usual blowout.

“We had a freak storm come through eight days before the race, and it washed out the inner part of the track, and we were scared to work him,” Leatherbury said. “So, we went into that race without a work, and I think that’s why he hung.”

Jack’s in the Deck’s career has been compromised by injury, but he does have back class. He won the Grade 2 Futurity at Belmont Park in 2011.