The Ben's Cat Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in August at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. It is open to horses three years old and up and is raced on turf. For 2016, the distance is 6 furlongs. This race was formerly called the Mister Diz Stakes.

The race honors Ben's Cat, Maryland's four-time Horse of the Year that won 32 races, 26 stakes and more than $2.6 million in purse earnings from 63 starts in an eight-year career from 2010 to 2017. Ben's Cat was bred, owned and trained by Hall of Fame inductee King Leatherbury. Ben's Cat died at the age of 11 in July 2017, less than a month following his retirement. Ben's Cat actually won the race that would be renamed in his honor an unheard of six times.

The race was formerly named in honor of Mister Diz, who was bred and owned by former Pimlico Race Course Vice-president Nathan Cohen. Mister Diz was named Maryland-bred champion for four consecutive years from 1968 to 1971. He was the Champion two-year-old, three-year-old and champion older horse twice. He was also named Champion turf horse twice. Mister Diz, a foal of 1966, came from modest origins. He was a gelding out of Panacean and earned $387,015 over eight seasons. Mister Diz was named for track employee Frank Rosenfeld, who was nicknamed Mister Diz. The flashy chestnut gelding with four high white stockings and a blaze won nine stakes races and placed in 16 others. He set track records at Laurel Park for 7 furlongs and Monmouth Park at miles.Maryland Jockey Club, Media Guide, 2008, page 48

Records Speed record: 5.5 furlongs - 1:01.00 - Tommie's Star (2007) 6 furlongs - 1:08.60 - My Problem (2000) 5 furlongs - 0:56.00 - Elberton (2001)

Most wins by a horse 6 - Ben's Cat (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)

Most wins by a jockey: 3 - Julian Pimentel (2013, 2014, 2015)

Most wins by a trainer: 6 - King T. Leatherbury (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) 3 - Michael Trombetta (2002, 2003, 2006)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey TrainerOwner Distance Time Purse2019 Oldies But Goodies4 Alex Cintron Michael J. Trombetta R. Larry Johnson5.5 fur.1:01.84$75,0002018 Sonny Inspired 7 Daniel Centeno Phil Schoenthal D Hatman Thoroughbreds6 fur.1:08.95$75,0002017 Phlash Phelps 6 Victor Carrasco Rodney Jenkins Hillwood Stable LLC (Ellen Charles)6 fur.1:08.40$100,0002016 John Jones4 Luis Garcia Lacey Gaudet Matthew Schera6 fur.1:10.58$100,0002015 Ben's Cat9 Julian Pimentel King T. Leatherbury The Jim Stable5.5 fur.1:02.97$100,0002014 Ben's Cat8 Julian Pimentel King T. Leatherbury The Jim Stable5.5 fur.1:01.75 $125,0002013 Ben's Cat7 Julian Pimentel King T. Leatherbury The Jim Stable5 fur.0:57.74 $125,0002012 Ben's Cat6 Horacio Karamanos King T. Leatherbury The Jim Stable5 fur.0:57.26$75,0002011 Ben's Cat5 Jeremy Rose King T. Leatherbury The Jim Stable5 fur.0:57.82$75,0002010 Ben's Cat4 Rosemary Homeister King T. Leatherbury The Jim Stable6 fur.1:09.08$70,0002009 Heros Reward7 Anna Napravnik Dale Capuano Rob Ry Farm (Bob Haynes)5.5 fur.1:02.62$50,0002008 Lycurgus4 Josue Arce Scott A. Lake Toby Roth5.5 fur.1:03.98 $50,0002007 Tommie's Star4 Travis Dunkelberger Ben M. Feliciano Jr. Elaine C. Bassford5.5 fur.1:01.00$50,0002006 Procreate8 Rosie Napravnik Michael J. Trombetta Thomas McClay5 fur.0:57.20$75,0002005 Yankee Wildcat7 Enrique M. Jurado Timothy Tullock Jr. Virginia Wright5 fur.0:56.80$50,0002004 Yankee Wildcat6 Enrique M. Jurado Timothy Tullock Jr. Virginia Wright5 fur.0:58.60$75,0002003 Ghostly Numbers 5 Rick Wilson Michael J. Trombetta Ghost Breeding5.5 fur.1:05.40$50,0002002 Ghostly Numbers 4 Mario Pino Michael J. Trombetta Ghost Breeding5.5 fur.1:03.00$50,0002001 Elberton4 Alberto Delgado Luigi Gino C. Frank Hopkins5 fur.0:56.00$75,0002000 My Problem4 Travis Dunkelberger Dale Capuano Russell E. Train6 fur.1:08.60$60,0001999 Smart Sunny6 Shane Sellers Howard E. Wolfendale David H. Wade5 fur.0:58.60$75,0001998 Tyaskin5 Omar Clinger Donald H. Barr Marshall E. Dowell6 fur.1:10.40$60,0001997 One More Power4 Frank G. Douglas Lawrence E. Murray Sondra D. Bender6 fur.1:09.40$60,0001996 Goldminer's Dream7 Edgar Prado Ann W. Merryman Dark Hollow Racing Partnership 6 fur.1:10.00$60,0001995 Wise Dusty4 Allen T. Stacy Wayne M. Bailey Adrian L. Merton6 fur.1:10.20$60,0001994 Higher Strata4 Andrea Seefeldt Richard W. Small Donald E. Souder6 fur.1:10.60$50,0001993 No Race - No Race No Race No Raceno race0:00.00no race1992 North Carroll3 Mike Luzzi Benjamin W. Perkins Jr. Richard D. Morris6 fur.1:11.00$50,0001991 Risk It3 Joe Tocco Ronald A. Alfano Kenneth L. Brown6 fur.1:13.20$60,0001990 Fighting Notion3 Alberto Delgado Nancy B. Heil Arlene E. Kushner6 fur.1:11.00$60,0001989 Northern Wolf3 Clarence J. Ladner III Hank Allen Deep Silver Stable (John Meeks, Howard Hoffman, Alan Cahill) 6 fur.1:11.40$60,0001988 Lord Maniac3 Vincent Bracciale Jr. Mario Beneito Nadine A Becker6 fur.1:13.00$55,0001987 Prince Judex3 Julie Krone n/a D. Raymond Wright6 fur.1:11.20$50,0001986 Polar Escapade3 Mario Pino John H. Forbes Tom Giardalas6 fur.1:12.00$45,0001985 Prince Valid 6 Paul A. Nichol Jr. Dean Gaudet Israel Cohen5 fur.0:57.40$30,0001984 Knight of Armor4 Paul A. Nichol Jr. n/a J. F. Edwards5 fur.0:58.20$30,0001983 Prince Valid4 David Brynes Dean Gaudet Israel Cohen5 fur.0:57.80$30,000

See also

Ben's Cat Stakes top three finishers

References