LAUREL, MD. 10-18-13---Owner/trainer King Leatherbury informed the Maryland Jockey Club this morning that Ben’s Cat will run in the $125,000 Maryland Million Turf Saturday afternoon at Laurel Park. Leatherbury cross-entered his star into both the Turf and the $100,000 Sprint.

The 7-year-old is looking to become the first four-time winner of Maryland Million races after winning the Turf Sprint the last three years. That race was eliminated by Maryland Million officials earlier this year. The son of Parker’s Storm Cat, who became Leatherbury’s first millionaire last year, has won 23-of-35 starts for earnings of $1,695,640.

“The Sprint has some really fast horses in it,” Leatherbury said. “With the weight I was given (124 pounds-four to 11 more than the rest of the field), I think there were three that could beat me. I am the best horse in the Turf. The only question mark is the one-mile distance. Handicapping these races was fun. Before doing so I thought I would be running in the Sprint but after looking at the numbers, I changed my mind.”

Ben’s Cat will be the 6-5 morning line favorite in the Turf, which also features Roadhog and Change of Command, the 1-2 finishers from last year. Julian Pimentel will be aboard Ben’s Cat for the 24^th time. The duo has teamed up for 15 victories.

With the defection of Ben’s Cat, Maryland Jockey Club stakes coordinator Coley Blind expects Ribo Bobo to run in the Sprint. The Jason Servis trainee was cross-entered in the $50,000 Starter Handicap where he was a 2-5 favorite. The son of 1996 Preakness winner Louis Quatorze has won all eight races this year. The Sprint also features defending champion Action Andy and Fersmiley, who has won four straight.

Hall of Famer Safely Kept (Distaff-1989-90-91), Countus In (Ladies-1989-90-91), Mz. Zill Bear (Ladies-1993-94-95) and Docent (Sweepstakes-2001 & Classic-2002-03) are the only other runners to win three times on Maryland Million day.
 

NOT FOR LOVE, DANCE WITH RAVENS TOP STALLION LIST

Introduced in 1986, the Jim McKay Maryland Million, a program of races restricted to the offspring of Maryland-based stallions, continues to receive strong support from Maryland's extensive breeding industry.

Maryland-sired Thoroughbreds are nominated before they become 2-year-olds and remain eligible for life to run in the Maryland Million races. After twenty-seven runnings, 222 stallions have sired runners in Maryland Million races. Saturday afternoon, twenty-seven stallions will be represented in the nine stakes races.

Not For Love, who stands at Northview Stallion Station, leads all stallions with 10 potential runners tomorrow afternoon. Progeny of Not For Love have captured 27 Maryland Million races in the last 10 years from 183 starters, including four victories in 2009 and 2011. His sons and daughters could be competing in six races Saturday.

Another Northview Stallion Station sire, Dance With Ravens, actually tops the list with 11 entries, including a pair of 30-1 shots from Dance With Ravens: Raven Alexa and Steelersoverravens.

Others with at least five entries are Louis Quatorze (seven), Great Notion (six), Oratory (five) and Gators N Bears (five).

First post for the 11-race program is 12:15 p.m. at Laurel Park.

Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim McKay originally proposed the concept and remained Chairman of the Board until his death five years ago. Twenty-two times attendance figures have topped 20,000 for the event.

The first 4,000 full-paid admissions and Maryland-licensed owners and trainers will each receive a free Maryland Million Sport Cap. On-track entertainment between races will include two pony races,Suttler Clydesdales, Goshen Foxhounds, Great Falls Vaulters and Special Olympics Marylandand a visit from Joey of War Horse fame, brought to life by puppeteers.

Party at the Park, located trackside in Paddock Park, will feature food truck fare, a full bar cornhole as well as Jeremy Plonk and Brian Nadeau from Horse Player Now’s Night School providing expert analysis of the card.

HRTV will have a live presence for the entire card with hosts Dick Jerardi and Caton Bredar on site.

LEATHERBURY, CAPUANO BATTLE FOR TRAINER TOP SPOT

Leatherbury sits atop the Maryland Million trainer standings with 10 victories on “Maryland’s Day At The Races, one more than Dale Capuano. 

Capuano has two legitimate starters tomorrow in Sister Sharon (8-1, Distaff Starter) and Monster Sleeping (6-1, Ladies).

Jerry Robb, who is tied for seventh all-timer with six winners, has a chance to move up the leaderboard. He has the morning line favorites in the Nursery (Joint Custody) and Lassie (Jonesin With Jerry).

Seventy-five conditioners will saddle horses Saturday at Laurel Park, including 14 with multiple starters.

“Maryland Million day is our biggest day,” said trainer Tim Keefe, who will saddle Classic favorite Eighttofasttocatch. “Most people would say Preakness, but for me, Maryland Million day is our biggest day. It’s a great day.”
 

PIMENTEL COULD RIDE THREE FAVORITES

Maryland Jockey Club clerk of scales Frankie Saumell will have 37 riders in the jocks room Saturday afternoon.

Pimentel tops all riders with eight mounts. The 32-year-old will ride Ben’s Cat in the Turf and is named aboard morning line favorites in the Distaff (Ju Ju Eyeballs) and Sprint or Starter Handicap (Ribo Bobo).

Horacio Karamanos has seven riding assignments, including Art of the Hunt, the 7-2 choice in the Distaff Starter and Action Andy, the defending champion in the Sprint.

Apprentice Trevor McCarthy, the leading rider at the current fall meeting, has the call in seven races in his initial Maryland Million. The 19-year-old will ride Mystic Love, the 3-1 morning line favorite in the Ladies, and has a mount in the Classic (Wild Louis).

“I definitely think he has a shot,” McCarthy said. “I am pretty excited about the day. I never expected to have this many mounts. It is going to be a great day.”

Forest Boyce will also be busy with six mounts. The 29-year-old will ride 2-5 favorite Eighttofasttocatch in the Classic and defending champ Pagan Priestess in the Ladies.

Joe Bravo will come down from his New Jersey base to ride three live runners: Can’t Explain (5-1, Ladies); Ann’s Smart Dancer (5-2, Distaff) and Change of Command (4-1, Turf). 

Ramon Dominguez holds the single year mark with five Maryland Million victories in 2005 and leads all riders with 17 winners, one more than Mario Pino and Edgar Prado. Prado is named to ride Moral High Ground, a 12-1 shot in the Ladies.
 

About Laurel Park

Laurel Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.