| Class | Restricted State-bred Stakes |
|---|---|
| Location | Laurel Park Racecourse, Laurel, Maryland, United States |
| Inaugurated | 1983 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www.laurelpark.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 6 furlongs |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds & Up |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | $60,000 |
The Ben's Cat Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in August at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. It is open to horses three years old and up and is raced on turf. For 2016, the distance is 6 furlongs. This race was formerly called the Mister Diz Stakes.
The race honors Ben's Cat, Maryland's four-time Horse of the Year that won 32 races, 26 stakes and more than $2.6 million in purse earnings from 63 starts in an eight-year career from 2010 to 2017. Ben's Cat was bred, owned and trained by Hall of Fame inductee King Leatherbury. Ben's Cat died at the age of 11 in July 2017, less than a month following his retirement. Ben's Cat actually won the race that would be renamed in his honor an unheard of six times.
The race was formerly named in honor of Mister Diz, who was bred and owned by former Pimlico Race Course Vice-president Nathan Cohen. Mister Diz was named Maryland-bred champion for four consecutive years from 1968 to 1971. He was the Champion two-year-old, three-year-old and champion older horse twice. He was also named Champion turf horse twice. Mister Diz, a foal of 1966, came from modest origins. He was a gelding out of Panacean and earned $387,015 over eight seasons. Mister Diz was named for track employee Frank Rosenfeld, who was nicknamed Mister Diz. The flashy chestnut gelding with four high white stockings and a blaze won nine stakes races and placed in 16 others. He set track records at Laurel Park for 7 furlongs and Monmouth Park at 1+1⁄8 miles. [1]
Speed record:
Most wins by a horse
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Oldies But Goodies | 4 | Alex Cintron | Michael J. Trombetta | R. Larry Johnson | 5.5 fur. | 1:01.84 | $75,000 |
| 2018 | Sonny Inspired | 7 | Daniel Centeno | Phil Schoenthal | D Hatman Thoroughbreds | 6 fur. | 1:08.95 | $75,000 |
| 2017 | Phlash Phelps | 6 | Victor Carrasco | Rodney Jenkins | Hillwood Stable LLC (Ellen Charles) | 6 fur. | 1:08.40 | $100,000 |
| 2016 | John Jones | 4 | Luis Garcia | Lacey Gaudet | Matthew Schera | 6 fur. | 1:10.58 | $100,000 |
| 2015 | Ben's Cat | 9 | Julian Pimentel | King T. Leatherbury | The Jim Stable | 5.5 fur. | 1:02.97 | $100,000 |
| 2014 | Ben's Cat | 8 | Julian Pimentel | King T. Leatherbury | The Jim Stable | 5.5 fur. | 1:01.75 | $125,000 |
| 2013 | Ben's Cat | 7 | Julian Pimentel | King T. Leatherbury | The Jim Stable | 5 fur. | 0:57.74 | $125,000 |
| 2012 | Ben's Cat | 6 | Horacio Karamanos | King T. Leatherbury | The Jim Stable | 5 fur. | 0:57.26 | $75,000 |
| 2011 | Ben's Cat | 5 | Jeremy Rose | King T. Leatherbury | The Jim Stable | 5 fur. | 0:57.82 | $75,000 |
| 2010 | Ben's Cat | 4 | Rosemary Homeister | King T. Leatherbury | The Jim Stable | 6 fur. | 1:09.08 | $70,000 |
| 2009 | Heros Reward | 7 | Anna Napravnik | Dale Capuano | Rob Ry Farm (Bob Haynes) | 5.5 fur. | 1:02.62 | $50,000 |
| 2008 | Lycurgus | 4 | Josue Arce | Scott A. Lake | Toby Roth | 5.5 fur. | 1:03.98 | $50,000 |
| 2007 | Tommie's Star | 4 | Travis Dunkelberger | Ben M. Feliciano Jr. | Elaine C. Bassford | 5.5 fur. | 1:01.00 | $50,000 |
| 2006 | Procreate | 8 | Rosie Napravnik | Michael J. Trombetta | Thomas McClay | 5 fur. | 0:57.20 | $75,000 |
| 2005 | Yankee Wildcat | 7 | Enrique M. Jurado | Timothy Tullock Jr. | Virginia Wright | 5 fur. | 0:56.80 | $50,000 |
| 2004 | Yankee Wildcat | 6 | Enrique M. Jurado | Timothy Tullock Jr. | Virginia Wright | 5 fur. | 0:58.60 | $75,000 |
| 2003 | Ghostly Numbers | 5 | Rick Wilson | Michael J. Trombetta | Ghost Breeding | 5.5 fur. | 1:05.40 | $50,000 |
| 2002 | Ghostly Numbers | 4 | Mario Pino | Michael J. Trombetta | Ghost Breeding | 5.5 fur. | 1:03.00 | $50,000 |
| 2001 | Elberton | 4 | Alberto Delgado | Luigi Gino | C. Frank Hopkins | 5 fur. | 0:56.00 | $75,000 |
| 2000 | My Problem | 4 | Travis Dunkelberger | Dale Capuano | Russell E. Train | 6 fur. | 1:08.60 | $60,000 |
| 1999 | Smart Sunny | 6 | Shane Sellers | Howard E. Wolfendale | David H. Wade | 5 fur. | 0:58.60 | $75,000 |
| 1998 | Tyaskin | 5 | Omar Clinger | Donald H. Barr | Marshall E. Dowell | 6 fur. | 1:10.40 | $60,000 |
| 1997 | One More Power | 4 | Frank G. Douglas | Lawrence E. Murray | Sondra D. Bender | 6 fur. | 1:09.40 | $60,000 |
| 1996 | Goldminer's Dream | 7 | Edgar Prado | Ann W. Merryman | Dark Hollow Racing Partnership | 6 fur. | 1:10.00 | $60,000 |
| 1995 | Wise Dusty | 4 | Allen T. Stacy | Wayne M. Bailey | Adrian L. Merton | 6 fur. | 1:10.20 | $60,000 |
| 1994 | Higher Strata | 4 | Andrea Seefeldt | Richard W. Small | Donald E. Souder | 6 fur. | 1:10.60 | $50,000 |
| 1993 | No Race | - | No Race | No Race | No Race | no race | 0:00.00 | no race |
| 1992 | North Carroll | 3 | Mike Luzzi | Benjamin W. Perkins Jr. | Richard D. Morris | 6 fur. | 1:11.00 | $50,000 |
| 1991 | Risk It | 3 | Joe Tocco | Ronald A. Alfano | Kenneth L. Brown | 6 fur. | 1:13.20 | $60,000 |
| 1990 | Fighting Notion | 3 | Alberto Delgado | Nancy B. Heil | Arlene E. Kushner | 6 fur. | 1:11.00 | $60,000 |
| 1989 | Northern Wolf | 3 | Clarence J. Ladner III | Hank Allen | Deep Silver Stable (John Meeks, Howard Hoffman, Alan Cahill) | 6 fur. | 1:11.40 | $60,000 |
| 1988 | Lord Maniac | 3 | Vincent Bracciale Jr. | Mario Beneito | Nadine A Becker | 6 fur. | 1:13.00 | $55,000 |
| 1987 | Prince Judex | 3 | Julie Krone | n/a | D. Raymond Wright | 6 fur. | 1:11.20 | $50,000 |
| 1986 | Polar Escapade | 3 | Mario Pino | John H. Forbes | Tom Giardalas | 6 fur. | 1:12.00 | $45,000 |
| 1985 | Prince Valid | 6 | Paul A. Nichol Jr. | Dean Gaudet | Israel Cohen | 5 fur. | 0:57.40 | $30,000 |
| 1984 | Knight of Armor | 4 | Paul A. Nichol Jr. | n/a | J. F. Edwards | 5 fur. | 0:58.20 | $30,000 |
| 1983 | Prince Valid | 4 | David Brynes | Dean Gaudet | Israel Cohen | 5 fur. | 0:57.80 | $30,000 |