Ben’s Cat roars to third straight Parx Dash win

Bensalem, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – Defending two-time winner Ben’s Cat came roaring down the stretch Saturday to capture his third straight $200,000 Parx Dash Handicap at Parx Racing.

Trained by King Leatherbury, Ben’s Cat broke from an outside post in the nine- horse field as the 5-2 co-favorite along with Marchman and Tightend Touchdown. Ridden by Julian Pimentel, the 8-year-old gelding settled off the pace until the top of the stretch.

Bold Thunder had the lead in mid-stretch until co-favorites Tightend Touchdown and Marchman moved into first. Thundering from the outside came Ben’s Cat who caught Tightend Touchdown yards before the wire and registered a nose victory.

Marchman held on for third followed by Bold Thunder, Sharp Sensation, Stormofthecentury, Mongolian Saturday, This Ain’t No Bull and Atlantic Seaboard. Quality Lass was an early scratch.

The time for the fourth running of the five-furlong Parx Dash was 56.62 seconds on a firm turf course.

Ben’s Cat added $120,000 with the victory to bring his lifetime earnings past the $2 million mark to $2,105,990. The 8-year-old has won 27 of his 41 career starts, including three of four this year.

Two years ago, Ben’s Cat, owned by The Jim Stable, won the event by two lengths as a 10-1 longshot against eight rivals and repeated last year as the 13-10 second pick with 4-5 favorite Tightend Touchdown finishing second. He was second in the inaugural Parx Dash in 2011.

Ben’s Cat returned $7.40, $4.40 and $2.80. Tightend Touchdown paid $3.60 and $2.60, Marchman paid $2.40 to show.

Categorized in: Horses