Beulah Park: That's a Heckofacat tries to fire off long layoff in Babst/Palacios

That’s a Heckofacat has a perfect running style for the six-furlong, $50,000 Babst/Palacios and will try to win his first start of the season on Saturday at Beulah Park.

Trained by Doug Cowans, the lightly raced 5-year-old That’s a Heckofacat has won 7 of his 14 starts, including the Best Of Ohio Endurance in his last out Oct. 15.

There is an abundance of speed in the eight-horse field of Ohio-bred older horses and That’s a Heckofacat’s come-from-behind style should suit him well. John McKee will ship in to ride.

Trophy Boy is another Cowans trainee who figures to have a say in the outcome. The 4-year-old Trophy Boy has won 4 of 5 starts, most recently the prep for this event by a hard-fought half-length April 14. Last season’s top 3-year-old in Ohio, Trophy Boy is 3 for 3 locally but should receive a lot of pressure on the front end. Luis Gonzalez will ride.

The venerable Catlaunch will be trying for his first victory of the season after a third in the April 14 prep. Now 11, Catlaunch has won more than $1 million, virtually all of it coming against Ohio-bred competition. Catlaunch was the 2011 Ohio horse of the year, handicap horse of the year, and Ohio-accredited male horse of the year. Trained by Ivan Vazquez, Catlaunch will be ridden by Luis Martinez.

Only Boy, Raise the Reward, Klassy Korbin, Beau Mec, and Hehaz Given are also entered.