Ben's Cat Stakes

Last updated
Ben's Cat Stakes
Restricted State-bred Stakes race
Location Laurel Park Racecourse,
Laurel, Maryland,
United States
Inaugurated1983
Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website www.laurelpark.com
Race information
Distance6 furlongs
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds & Up
WeightAssigned
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.

Contents

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+18 miles. [1]

Records

Speed record:

Most wins by a horse

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Distance
Time
Purse
2019Oldies But Goodies4Alex Cintron Michael J. Trombetta R. Larry Johnson5.5 fur.1:01.84$75,000
2018Sonny Inspired7Daniel CentenoPhil SchoenthalD Hatman Thoroughbreds6 fur.1:08.95$75,000
2017Phlash Phelps6Victor CarrascoRodney JenkinsHillwood Stable LLC (Ellen Charles)6 fur.1:08.40$100,000
2016John Jones4 Luis Garcia Lacey GaudetMatthew Schera6 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 Stable5.5 fur.1:01.75$125,000
2013 Ben's Cat 7 Julian Pimentel King T. Leatherbury The Jim Stable5 fur.0:57.74$125,000
2012 Ben's Cat 6 Horacio Karamanos King T. Leatherbury The Jim Stable5 fur.0:57.26$75,000
2011 Ben's Cat 5 Jeremy Rose King T. Leatherbury The Jim Stable5 fur.0:57.82$75,000
2010 Ben's Cat 4 Rosemary Homeister King T. Leatherbury The Jim Stable6 fur.1:09.08$70,000
2009Heros Reward7 Anna Napravnik Dale Capuano Rob Ry Farm (Bob Haynes)5.5 fur.1:02.62$50,000
2008Lycurgus4Josue Arce Scott A. Lake Toby Roth5.5 fur.1:03.98$50,000
2007Tommie's Star4 Travis Dunkelberger Ben M. Feliciano Jr.Elaine C. Bassford5.5 fur.1:01.00$50,000
2006Procreate8 Rosie Napravnik Michael J. Trombetta Thomas McClay5 fur.0:57.20$75,000
2005Yankee Wildcat7Enrique M. JuradoTimothy Tullock Jr.Virginia Wright5 fur.0:56.80$50,000
2004Yankee Wildcat6Enrique M. JuradoTimothy Tullock Jr.Virginia Wright5 fur.0:58.60$75,000
2003Ghostly Numbers5 Rick Wilson Michael J. Trombetta Ghost Breeding5.5 fur.1:05.40$50,000
2002Ghostly Numbers4 Mario Pino Michael J. Trombetta Ghost Breeding5.5 fur.1:03.00$50,000
2001Elberton4 Alberto Delgado Luigi GinoC. Frank Hopkins5 fur.0:56.00$75,000
2000My Problem4 Travis Dunkelberger Dale Capuano Russell E. Train6 fur.1:08.60$60,000
1999Smart Sunny6 Shane Sellers Howard E. WolfendaleDavid H. Wade5 fur.0:58.60$75,000
1998Tyaskin5Omar ClingerDonald H. BarrMarshall E. Dowell6 fur.1:10.40$60,000
1997One More Power4Frank G. DouglasLawrence E. MurraySondra D. Bender6 fur.1:09.40$60,000
1996Goldminer's Dream7 Edgar Prado Ann W. MerrymanDark Hollow Racing Partnership6 fur.1:10.00$60,000
1995Wise Dusty4 Allen T. Stacy Wayne M. BaileyAdrian L. Merton6 fur.1:10.20$60,000
1994Higher Strata4Andrea Seefeldt Richard W. Small Donald E. Souder6 fur.1:10.60$50,000
1993No Race-No RaceNo RaceNo Raceno race0:00.00no race
1992North Carroll3 Mike Luzzi Benjamin W. Perkins Jr. Richard D. Morris6 fur.1:11.00$50,000
1991Risk It3Joe ToccoRonald A. AlfanoKenneth L. Brown6 fur.1:13.20$60,000
1990Fighting Notion3 Alberto Delgado Nancy B. HeilArlene E. Kushner6 fur.1:11.00$60,000
1989Northern Wolf3Clarence J. Ladner III Hank Allen Deep Silver Stable (John Meeks, Howard Hoffman, Alan Cahill)6 fur.1:11.40$60,000
1988Lord Maniac3 Vincent Bracciale Jr. Mario BeneitoNadine A Becker6 fur.1:13.00$55,000
1987Prince Judex3 Julie Krone n/aD. Raymond Wright6 fur.1:11.20$50,000
1986Polar Escapade3 Mario Pino John H. Forbes Tom Giardalas6 fur.1:12.00$45,000
1985Prince Valid6Paul A. Nichol Jr. Dean Gaudet Israel Cohen5 fur.0:57.40$30,000
1984Knight of Armor4Paul A. Nichol Jr.n/aJ. F. Edwards5 fur.0:58.20$30,000
1983Prince Valid4David Brynes Dean Gaudet Israel Cohen5 fur.0:57.80$30,000

See also

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References

  1. Maryland Jockey Club, Media Guide, 2008, page 48