Pimlico: As usual, Embarr fires fresh in Dahlia
Embarr tends to run best when she returns from her annual winter vacation and that proved true once again Saturday at Pimlico as she captured the $100,000 Dahlia Stakes for fillies and mares for the second straight year.
A 6-year-old mare owned and trained by Susan Cooney, Embarr ($11.40) raised her record on Pimlico’s turf course to 4 for 5 when she held off 15-1 outsider C C Gold by a head in the one-mile turf race. Zucchini Flower was third as the 6-5 favorite. The winning time over good ground was 1:45.45.
She comes to the races fresh this time of year and she seems to like it here,” Cooney said. “We start her back in February with a lot of long gallops. She requires less work as she gets older. She really gets herself into shape on her own.”
Cooney said she would like to see Embarr, who has now won 8 of 25 starts lifetime, try graded stakes company again this season, perhaps in the Gallorette on the Preakness undercard.
Ben’s Cat takes Mister Diz for fifth time
Ben’s Cat essentially what was a paid workout when he launched his 8-year-old campaign by winning the $75,000 Mister Diz Stakes for Maryland-bred turf sprinters for the fifth straight time.
Ridden by Julian Pimentel, Ben’s Cat ($2.40) sat second behind the early pace set by Relentless Move, moved to within a half-length approaching the turn, took the lead, and cruised home 1 3/4 lengths in front. The time for five furlongs on a turf course rated good was 1:01.75.
In winning for the 25th time in 38 outings, Ben’s Cat pushed his career bankroll to $1,907,640. He will be pointed to the Jim McKay Turf Sprint, a race he won last year and in 2011, on the Black-Eyed Susan undercard on May 16.
“We didn’t have a plan,” Pimentel said. “ I always just let him do his thing. He seems to know what to do and when to do it. He is as good now as he has ever been.”
Owner-trainer King Leatherbury agreed with Pimentel’s assessment.
“It’s an amazing thing. This horse is better than ever. I’ve run out of material talking about him,” Leatherbury said. “His disposition is very mild but he’s started to show more fire the last year or so.”
Maiden surprises in Twixt
Aunt Ellen, an 0-for-10 maiden and the longest shot on the board at 18-1, rallied from far back to nip 1-2 favorite Steady N Love by a head in the $75,000 Twixt for 3-year-old Maryland-bred fillies.
Aunt Ellen ($39), ridden by Horatio Karamanos, was one of two fillies in the field running for trainer Ferris Allen, but not the one he figured had the best chance to win. Allen admitted afterwards he wanted Sheldon Russell to ride Charlie Renee, a filly claimed out of a win for $50,000 on March 27.
“I put Sheldon on the one I thought had the best chance to win,” Allen said. “But the other filly was the only horse who was a closer in this field. I talked to Horatio and told him to be the last one to make a move and see if works out for you.”