BALTIMORE, 05-30-14---Maryland sensation Ben’s Cat will attempt to become the 7^th Maryland-bred to reach the $2 million earnings mark when the King Leatherbury homebred competes in the $300,000 Jaipur Invitational (G3) at Belmont Park next Saturday. A first or second place finish will allow Ben’s Cat to reach the milestone.

“The last three years we have run in the Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup and it fit perfectly into the schedule,” Leatherbury said. “That was my original plan until the New York race came on our radar screen. I made some calls to see where some of the better horses were running and it looked like the Penn National race was going to be just as tough as New York so we made the commitment to run at Belmont. Since then it has changed a bit and there are two really outstanding runners going against us.”

Ben’s Cat earned his 21^st career stakes victory in the Jim McKay Stakes on Black-Eyed Susan Day to improve his record to 26 wins in 39 starts. The 8-year-old son of Parker’s Storm Cat has earned $1,967,990.

“He is amazing. He has the same exact form on our figure sheets as he did last year at this point,” added Leatherbury, who ranks fourth on the all-time win list with 6,429 victories. “He shows no wear and tear, knock on wood, and he looks like he is as good as ever. My exercise boy has been getting on him for five years and he says he has never been better.”

Cigar leads all Maryland-breds with $9,999,815 in career earnings. Awad ($3,270,818), Concern ($3,079,350), Broad Brush ($2,656,793), Richard’s Kid ($2,482,529) and Safely Kept ($2,194,206) also rank ahead of Ben’s Cat on the list.

BOYCE RIDES THREE CONSECUTIVE WINNERS ON FRIDAY’S CARD

Jockey Forest Boyce visited the winners’ circle in three consecutive races Friday afternoon at Pimlico Race Course. The 29-year-old was victorious aboard Lucy Boo ($26.40-race 5), Mr. Handsome ($10.80-race 6) and Manchurian High ($42.80-race 7). The Garrison Forest High School graduate ranks fourth in the spring standings with 18 winners.

About Pimlico Race Course
Historic Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness® Stakes, the middle jewel in horse racing's famed Triple Crown, first opened its doors on October 25, 1870, and is the second oldest racetrack in the United States. Pimlico has played host to racing icons and Baltimoreans have seen the likes of legendary horses such as Man o’ War, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, Affirmed and Cigar thunder down the stretch in thrilling and memorable competition. For more information on Pimlico, visit www.pimlico.com.

Pimlico Race Course 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.