Leatherbury debating Maryland Million or Woodbine for Ben's Cat

Maryland Million Day is a highlight of the Laurel Park meeting each fall, and there will be a celebratory vibe at the track next Saturday, when the series of seven stakes and four undercard races are run.

The expected starters include Eighttofasttocatch, who will be going for his third Classic win in the last four years, and Roadhog, who will be shooting for his third straight Turf victory.

But the participation of Ben’s Cat, Maryland’s most well-known horse, is up in the air.

Ben’s Cat won the Maryland Million Turf Sprint three straight years, 2010-12, but several changes were made to the program last year, including the elimination of the Turf Sprint and Maryland Million Oaks. That left Ben’s Cat without a home.

King Leatherbury adapted and ran Ben’s Cat, the $2 million earner whom he bred, owns, and trains, in the Turf, which was shortened from 1 1/8 miles to a mile in 2013. But Ben’s Cat did not win. After opening a clear lead nearing the sixteenth pole, he was run down by Roadhog and beaten a neck.

Ben’s Cat, 8, is in the midst of another fine season and has won 3 of 6 starts and $313,000. But he has lost a few close decisions lately and is only 1 for his last 4. He finished third, beaten a length, in the six-furlong Laurel Dash on Sept. 27.

“I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do,” Leatherbury said Friday. “I’ve pre-entered him in the two Maryland races. I’ve also nominated him to the Canadian race the next day.”

In addition to the Maryland Million Turf, Leatherbury pre-entered Ben’s Cat in the Sprint at six furlongs on the main track. The Woodbine race is the Grade 2, $300,000 Nearctic at six furlongs on turf.

“I’ve never run a horse in Canada, and I don’t really want to,” Leatherbury said. “So, I have three spots, and none of them are perfect. My decision might go down to the wire and depend on who goes in each race.”

It was clear when speaking with Leatherbury that he was having a difficult time deciding which way to go.

“If I go to Canada, I know I’ll be criticized for not supporting Maryland racing,” he said. “But he’s a turf sprinter, and there isn’t a race here for him anymore. What am I supposed to do?”

Slew of pre-entries for stakes

According to track officials, there were 188 pre-entries for the seven Maryland Million stakes and two supporting starter handicaps.

In a rule change this year, Maryland-bred horses can compete in a Maryland Million race if fewer than six Maryland-sired horses are entered. Traditionally, the Maryland Million has been strictly for Maryland-sired runners.

Although 46 of the 188 pre-entries are Maryland-breds, it appears that the Classic is the only race in which they will have a chance to start.