For the first time in five years, the absent Ben’s Cat won’t be the Laurel Dash favorite. But plenty of other runners have a chance to impact the outcome.
Two barns with a combined total of three wins in 2014 came up big in Laurel stakes Saturday, which left trainers Lilli Kurtinecz and Bruce Alexander beaming.
Our weekend stakes gallery features Monmouth’s final stake of the season and a half-dozen turf stakes from Laurel Park.
Dreamsgonewild stalked the early pace before moving to the lead and holding off late-running Ben’s Cat to win the Laurel Dash.
On tap: Laurel has drawn huge fields to six grass stakes, Monmouth showcases Jersey-breds, and two members of the Top Midlantic-bred Poll race.
Saturday’s Laurel Park card features six stakes, full fields, and plenty of wagering opportunities.
With a win Saturday in the Laurel Dash, Ben’s Cat will move past Hall of Famer Safely Kept on the Maryland-bred earnings list.
More than 200 horses are nominated to five open Laurel stakes next week, with no name bigger than expected Laurel Dash entrant Ben’s Cat.
After more than 6,400 victories, winning still hasn’t gotten old for King Leatherbury — and Ben’s Cat is one big reason for the trainer’s continued success.
Ben’s Cat notched the 18th stakes victory of his fabulous career with a hard-fought win in the Laurel Dash.