Well Defined holds off Shivaree to win Benny the Bull Stakes
Well Defined withstood a late surge by Shivaree to post his fourth career stakes victory Saturday in the $100,000 Benny the Bull at Gulfstream Park in South Florida.
After sitting a relaxed trip just off the early pace set by Travy Boy in the seven-furlong race for older Florida-breds, Well Defined began edging away at the furlong grounds, then had just enough left to finish a neck ahead of late-closing Shivaree. Pro Quality was another three-quarters of a length back in third in the field of seven.
Ridden by Emisael Jaramillo, Well Defined returned $4.40 as the favorite after finishing in 1:23.47 over a drying-out track rated good.
Well Defined, a 5-year-old With Distinction gelding owned and trained by Kathleen O’Connell, won the In Reality at 2, the Sam F. Davis at 3, and the Big Drama earlier this year. Overall, he is 9 for 24, with earnings of $759,217.
The $2 exacta (5-3) paid $29.80, the $1 trifecta (5-3-2) returned $63.70, and the 10-cent superfecta (5-3-2-6) was worth $40.99.
Perfect Silent Cat (12-1) upsets Aventura
Earlier on the 11-race card, Perfect Silent Cat ($27.20) got a perfect trip under Luca Panici when notching his first career victory in the $60,000 Aventura, a one-turn mile contested by six 3-year-olds.
Heretofore a maiden in three starts, including his last two over grass, Perfect Silent Cat was in an ideal stalking spot before finally spurting away from Rabdan in midstretch and drawing clear by three lengths in 1:36.35 over a sealed and sloppy track. Emperor’s Cause was second, and Rabdan was third.
Papetu, the 1-5 favorite, had no mishap when barely managing fourth after racing near the back the entire trip.
Perfect Silent Cat, a Kentucky-bred colt by Tale of the Cat, is trained by Sharon Boland for Shamrock Highlands Thoroughbreds. It was the first stakes win for Boland in a training career that began in 2020.
* A 10-race program is on tap for Sunday (first post, 12:50 p.m. Eastern) at Gulfstream, where three-day weekends have become the norm while installation of the new Tapeta course continues. A Rainbow 6 pool guarantee of $300,000 will be on offer.