Ben's Cat celebrates ninth birthday with runner-up finish at Pimlico

Making his fourth start of the year and first since

returning from South Florida, Bold Thunder (Bold n' Flashy) spoiled the 2015 debut of

nine-year-old

multiple Grade 3-winning millionaire Ben's Cat (Parker's Storm Cat) with a front-running, three-length

victory in Friday's

2ND race at Pimlico.

Trained by Patricia Farro for owner Andrew

Sulley, Bold Thunder led a field of five through a quarter-mile in :22 3/5

seconds and a half in :45 2/5 while Julien Pimentel settled Ben's Cat in

second. Bold Thunder hit the wire in :57 3/5 for five furlongs over the firm turf course in the $55,000 allowance.

Ben's Cat -- bred, owned and trained by legendary

Mid-Atlantic horseman King Leatherbury -- was making his first start since winning

the Fabulous Strike H. on November 29 and went off the 3-5 favorite.

Friday's race came nine years to the day when the gelding was foaled.

"It was disappointing, naturally, anytime you

get a horse that wins all the time and doesn't win. But, this is what happens in

all races. We know there's no such thing as a sure thing," Leatherbury said. "He

ran a good race, just not good enough. He met a horse that had everything his

way. He was the only speed in the race, and he's a legitimate horse. He's beaten

me before, and I've beaten him several times. He's a nice horse, and he beat

us."