Ben’s Cat third as Take Cover wins Gov Cup

Take Cover won the Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup. Photo by The Racing Biz.

by Frank Vespe

Fan favorite Ben’s Cat tried hard but couldn’t quite get there tonight, running gamely but falling 1 1/2 lengths short in the $150,000 Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup on this evening’s Penn Mile undercard.

The immediate beneficiary of that was Take Cover, the four-year-old son of War Front who lodged his third consecutive score and his first in stakes company.

“I’m the biggest fan of Ben’s Cat,” said winning rider Joe Bravo.  He said his horse, comfortable early, fired on late to earn the score.  “It’s pretty fun to ride them types,” he added.

Take Cover wore down Spring to the Sky to win by a half-length over that rival in a sharp 56 seconds flat for five furlongs over firm turf.

“We had a great trip,” said Trevor McCarthy, riding Ben’s Cat for just the third time and losing on him for the first.  “When I asked him to go, he went.  He did everything right; he just couldn’t catch the winner.”

Take Cover, trained by Alan Goldberg, stalked the pace from fourth along the rail before tipping outside at the quarter pole and surging to the win.  Spring to the Sky dueled inside through a quarter mile in 22.54 seconds and was still there after a half in 44.66 seconds but could not contain the winner.

Ben’s Cat, meanwhile, in fifth early, came outside and found his best stride late but could not threaten the winner.

Take Cover paid $11 to win and topped a $2 exacta of $47.60.  He has now won three of nine starts and earned over $150,000 in his career.