Ben's Reflection comes back

Ben's Reflection will return from a seven-month layoff when he starts as the 123-pound highweight against nine other Ohio-bred rivals in the $50,000 Babst/Palacios Memorial Handicap at Beulah Park.

Ben's Reflection last started on Oct. 1, when he rallied to score a four-length win in the Best of Ohio Sprint. Ben's Reflection easily has the best credentials of any starter in the six-furlong Babst/Palacios, and the concern over the layoff is mitigated by trainer Mike Nance's 36-percent win rate during the past year with starters returning from over a six-month layoff.

Overall, Ben's Reflection has a mark of 14-5-4 from 25 starts, good for $290,589 in earnings. Jeff Johnston has a return call aboard Ben's Reflection, who figures to stalk the pace Saturday and spots his rivals from one to 21 pounds.

Cat Launch, who finished second to Ben's Reflection in the Best of Ohio, has won both of his starts in 2006 by open lengths. Most recently he defeated open allowance rivals here by 3 3/4 lengths at a mile for trainer Ivan Vazquez. Catlaunch, a 5-year-old gelded son of Noble Cat, has never been better and could upset under jockey Ivan Gonzalez at 120 pounds.

Cat Singer, the defending champion in the race, returns from an 11-month layoff with a string of strong works here for trainer Dougie Cowans. Hector Rosario Jr. picks up the mount on Cat Singer at 122 pounds.