Ben's Cat Takes Maryland Million Turf Sprint

Ben’s Cat tuned up for a prospective start in next month’s Breeders’ Cup by scoring a repeat victory in Saturday’s Maryland Million Turf Sprint at Laurel Park.

The 5-year-old Ben’s Cat ($3) won by a length over the 3-year-old Steady Warrior, who fought the winner all the way to the finish line. The winning time for 5 1/2 furlongs on a course rated good was 1:06.07.

“I got afraid that we might get upset but Jeremy Rose wasn’t worried,” said King Leatherbury, the breeder, owner, and trainer of Ben’s Cat. “He said he knew he had the horse but the other horse was very reluctant to get beat.”

Ben’s Cat, who did not begin racing until last year because of a broken pelvis, won for the 13th time in 18 starts, including eight stakes victories. His lifetime earnings are now $733,230.