In a ceremony attended by approximately 150 horsemen, jockeys and fans, led by breeder, owner and Hall of Fame trainer King Leatherbury, Ben's Cat's remains were lowered into the ground on the northeast side of Laurel's paddock. He died from complications following surgery earlier this year. "Ben's Cat was an amazing, magnificent animal," said Leatherbury, who placed a dozen orange roses — the color of Leatherbury's and Ben's Cat silks — in front of the gelding's final resting place.
Ben's Cat Day Races: Thomas McClay's Prince of Hempt, racing for the first time outside of his native Pennsylvania for his stakes debut, kept his perfect record intact by rallying along the inside in deep stretch to upset Saturday's $100,000 City of Laurel on Ben's Cat Day at Laurel Park. The 7-furlong City of Laurel for 3-year-olds was the third of six stakes worth $575,000 in purses on an 11-race program that included a tribute to the life and career of late Mid-Atlantic legend Ben's Cat, who died this summer at the age of 11. MMG Stables' multiple Grade 3 winner El Areeb, coming off a knee injury that left him unraced since March 4, contested the early lead under jockey Jevian Toledo before fading to sixth in a field of eight. ... Graded-stakes placed Berned, trained by Graham Motion and ridden by Feargal Lynch, drove down the middle of the stretch to win the $100,000 Safely Kept. Owned by Three C Stables, West Point Thoroughbreds and Robert Masiello, Berned, a 3-year-old filly by Bernardini, won by 4¼ lengths over Your Love. Multiple stakes winner Shimmering Aspen was third. The winner covered seven furlongs in 1:22.54. ... A Different Style, who broke his maiden at second asking a month ago at Parx, led from start to finish to win the $100,000 James F. Lewis by 2 ¾ lengths over 2-5 favorite Kowboy Karma. Belmont Futurity (G3) runner-up Barry Lee was third. ... Bruce Tallisman's stakes winner Take Charge Paula forged a short lead in mid-stretch, gained some separation approaching the wire and held off late-running Caught Dream'n by a head in the $100,000 Smart Halo. ... Overcoming a poor break that took him out of his usual front-running style, BB Horses' Afleet Willy came flying on the far outside to pass horses and go on to a three-quarter-length victory in Saturday's $100,000 Richard W. Small on Ben's Cat Day at Laurel Park. ... The Small for 3-year-olds and up at 11/8 miles and the $75,000 Geisha for Maryland-bred/sired fillies and mares 3 and older at one mile were among six stakes worth $575,000 in purses on an 11-race program that included a tribute to the life and career of late Mid-Atlantic legend Ben's Cat, who died this summer at the age of 11. ... Euro Stable's My Magician, favored at 3-5 in a field of six fillies and mares, swept to the lead on the far outside and drew off down the stretch to win the $75,000 Geisha by 2 ¼ lengths.
ET CETERA
Hopkins advances in NCAA women's soccer tourney
Three first-half goals lifted the Johns Hopkins women's soccer team to a 4-1 win over the College of Staten Island on Saturday afternoon. Hopkins advances to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the 11th time in program history. Bailey Monaco, Emily Maheras and Michelle Santangelo scored for the Blue Jays.
College cross country: The men's and women's cross country teams took to the course for the NCAA Mideast Regional races. The men finished third while the women won their 10th straight championship.
Women's college basketball: Mount St. Mary's dropped its season opener at sixth-ranked Notre Dame, 121-65, on Saturday afternoon at Purcell Pavilion. Ashley White led the Mount with 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting from the field. Katrice Dickson added 11 points and four assists.
College field hockey: Ninth-ranked Maryland (14-6) shut out No. 12 Wake Forest, 2-0, Saturday in the NCAA tournament first round at Duke's Williams Field. Maryland allowed Wake Forest just three shots on the day and held the Demon Deacons (12-8) without a penalty corner. Maryland plays No. 2 and host Duke (17-3) in the NCAA quarterfinals today at 2 p.m.
Women's college volleyball: Johns Hopkins knocked off host and second-seeded Stevenson, 3-1, in the second round of the NCAA tournament to advance to the Sweet 16 on Sunday.
— From Sun staff and news services