Ben's Cat runs second in 2015 debut at Pimlico

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Baltimore, MD (SportsNetwork.com) - Maryland champion Ben's Cat made his 2015 debut Friday at Pimlico Race Course, but could do no better than second versus four rivals in a turf sprint.

Trained by Hall of Fame finalist King Leatherbury, Ben's Cat was making his first start in more than four months in a $55,000 allowance race going five furlongs.

The 9-year-old gelding went off as the 3-5 favorite in the five-horse field. He pressed pacesetter Bold Thunder, but finished three lengths back in second with his regular rider Julien Pimentel.

The time for five furlongs was 57.62 seconds on a firm turf course.

Ben's Cat, bred and owned by Leatherbury, has won 28 of 46 lifetime starts, 23 of them stakes, for $2,325,990.

He was named 2014 Maryland-bred Horse of the Year for a record fourth time and was named champion older male, sprinter and turf horse. The 9-year-old has earned 13 state-bred divisional championships in addition to Horse of the Year.

Ben's Cat last raced on Nov. 29 when he won Penn National's Fabulous Strike Stakes at six furlongs on the main track. Last year he also won the Parx Dash Handicap, Turf Sprint and Mister Diz Stakes at Pimlico.