BALTIMORE, 05-17-13–Winning his 16^th stakes and 21st race overall, The Jim Stable’s Ben’s Cat charged by the front runners and won the $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint. The King Leatherbury trainee also had captured the Jim McKay in 2011.

The 7-year-old son of Parker’s Storm Cat, who was bred by owner-trainer Leatherbury, completed the five furlong distance over the firm turf in 56.18 seconds and paid $4.20. Front runner Spring to the Sky held on to finish second, while co-favorite Bridgetown was third and longshot Super Chunky finished fourth.

 Julian Pimentel was in the irons aboard the popular Ben’s Cat, who has been thrilling central Maryland racing fans since he left the maiden ranks in his first start at the age of four after recovering from a broken pelvis. The victory upped his career earnings to $1,132,860.

Jim McKay Turf Sprint Quotes

King Leatherbury (trainer, Ben’s Cat, winner)– “It looks like he’s as good as ever as a 7-year-old. He’s not that well bred, I just hit a home run when everything fell into place with this horse. He’s super and has stayed totally healthy. He’s probably one of the best dirt-grass horses in the country. He’ll run in the Governor’s Cup at Penn National on June 1.”

Julian Pimentel (jockey, Ben’s Cat, winner)– “My horse ran a great race. He did everything right for me. He ran strong and had plenty left for the finish.”

Bruce Brown (trainer, Spring to the Sky, 2^nd) – “Bridgetown never left us alone the whole race and really pressured us, and he still finished ahead of him, which is impressive. The race just set up nice for the winner, and I’m not at all disappointed with my horse. This is Ben’s Cat’s backyard. This is my horse’s first race this year. We’ll build off this and there are better days to come.”

Javier Castellano (jockey, Spring to the Sky, 2^nd)– “My horse broke well and the race set up perfectly for us. We didn’t have any traffic problems. Unfortunately we were just second best today.”

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.