First dirt race in six years no problem for Benny Havens
Earns first main track victory — at age nine
Press Release
September 27, 2026
“He’s my best friend. He’s my first-born,” said owner-trainer Anthony “T. J.” Aguirre Jr. after 9-year-old Benny Havens splashed home first in Sunday’s opening race at Laurel Park, a $16,000 claimer for 3-year-olds and up who had never won three races.
Due to heavy rainfall over the previous 24 hours, the race was moved from the Exceller Turf Course and contested at 5 ½ furlongs on the main track.
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On paper, the surface switch posed an interesting dilemma for handicappers. What to do with Benny Havens, a gelding who hadn’t raced on dirt in more than six years, had never won on the surface, and was a confirmed late-runner in a three-horse field?
Aguirre considered scratching the crotchety veteran, a horse that had acted up badly before the start of his last three races and hadn’t raced since June 7.
“Absolutely,” he said. “And then I went into my handicapping expertise. I [thought] if we could get a three- or four-horse field, then we could win this thing. It could set up for us, because there’s speed [in the race]. And it went according to plan.”
The race went exactly as Aguirre’s script called for, with odds-on favorite Stone Cold Jones and Borletti sparring for the lead through an opening quarter in 22.59 seconds on the sealed, sloppy track. Jaime Rodriguez, riding Benny Havens, had his mount perched outside them, ready to pounce.
“Jaime gave him a patient ride,” Aguirre noted. “He said he was going to keep him clean and let him do the running.”
Once set down for the stretch drive, Benny Havens sealed the deal, drawing away to win by 2 ½ lengths over Borletti in 1:06.97. Stone Cold Jones finished a well-beaten third.
Benny Havens paid $6.20 as the second choice in the wagering.
Bred in Maryland by Douglas Brown’s Little Man Farm, Benny Havens, an Outflanker brother to Aguirre’s multiple stakes-placed turf sprinter Tidewater and a half-brother to stakes-winning Lotsa Mischief, was purchased by Aguirre for $1,500 as a yearling.
He has won three times in 51 starts, but that record doesn’t tell the whole story, as he’s raced for a tag only three times and usually faces tough allowance competition.
“If you look at his past races, when he’s sitting four or five lengths out, he closes and finishes well, whether he wins or gets beaten by a length or a half-length. He always tries,” Aguirre explained.
Although Benny Havens looked good over the wet track today, Aguirre isn’t convinced he’s the next Cigar.
“I guess next time, when it comes off the turf, I’m not afraid of scratches,” he admitted. “Jaime says he runs like a turf horse and feels like one.”
Benny Havens was Aguirre’s first winner when the barn started up and running in 2019.
“He’s everything I’ve ever asked for. He’s a horse who shows up every day and never complains. I know he’s a little rowdy in the afternoons, but that’s just his personality. I told Jaime I entered for [yesterday], but the race didn’t go. It was brought back for [today].”
“Everything happens for a reason.”
NOTES
Jockey Mychel Sanchez rode four winners on Sunday’s card, three of which were trained by Brittany Russell. A native of Venezuela, Sanchez enjoyed a breakout year in 2025, posting career-bests in wins (307) and earnings ($11,463,434). He rode 23 stakes winners, including a double at Parx on New Year’s Eve… Jockey Jose Vargas rode two winners on Sunday. He guided All Fruits Ripe ($7.80) to a popular victory in the fourth race for trainer Valrie Smith. Vargas then set up a stalking trip on the outside aboard Kiss Me Mo ($3.40) in the eighth race for trainer Kerry Hohlbein. All Fruits Ripe’s maiden-breaking score came in his 28th career outing…
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