Laurel: Sonny Inspired thrives in new blinkers

The $75,000 Ben’s Cat, a six-furlong dirt stakes for Maryland-breds that was added to the Laurel Park schedule over the winter, makes its debut Saturday. And while Ben’s Cat will not start in his namesake stakes, it should be noted that he has rejoined trainer King Leatherbury’s stable after his normal winter vacation on the farm.

Ben’s Cat, 10, is being pointed to the $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint on Black-Eyed Susan Day at Pimlico in May but could have a prep race earlier.

The $75,000 Harrison Johnson Memorial, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up that was scheduled for Saturday at Laurel, failed to attract enough horses and was not carded. One of the entrants was Page McKenney, whose main spring goal is the $1.25 million Charles Town Classic on April 23.

The main players in the seven-runner Ben’s Cat are Fire Plug Stakes winner Sonny Inspired and Jack’s in the Deck, who won the Maryland Million Sprint in October.

Since the Fire Plug on Jan. 16, Sonny Inspired has finished third to Page McKenney and Majestic Affair in the Grade 3 General George. Those two races have been among the best of Sonny Inspired’s career and came after trainer Phil Schoenthal tweaked the 5-year-old’s blinkers.

In the Fire Plug, Schoenthal ran Sonny Inspired in full-cup blinkers, which are more restrictive than what he had been wearing. Sonny Inspired, who is 5 for 28 in his career, has had a tendency to hang in the stretch of his races, according to Schoenthal, but appears to be more focused since the equipment change.

Jack’s in the Deck, 7, has back class, having won the Grade 2 Futurity at Belmont Park in 2011. He has had his share of infirmities over the years, and trainer Robin Graham is judicious in selecting his races.

Jack’s in the Deck outgamed Ben’s Cat to win the Maryland Million Sprint by a nose after a long stretch drive. He has since faced open company twice, finishing fifth in the $200,000 Fabulous Strike and seventh in the Dave’s Friend. He will be taking a significant class drop Saturday while returning to the statebred ranks.

Other horses to consider are D C Dancer, who finished a close second to the talented but fragile Bill Mott-trained Mean Season; Any Court Inastorm, who won a third-level optional claimer two starts ago; and Gursky, who has won three of five since being claimed by Schoenthal.