Whenigettoheaven. (Jerry Dzierwinski/TMJC)
Lifelovenlaughter Grabs Jameela
Carryovers in Both “Value Pick 5” wagers on Sunday
Dan Illman/Laurel Park
LAUREL, Md. – Whenigettoheaven successfully defended his title in the Ben’s Cat Stakes at Laurel Park on Saturday when he rallied from just off the pace under jockey J. G. Torrealba to nip favored Determined Kingdom by a half-length.
The Ben’s Cat was one of two $100,000 races restricted to Maryland-bred or -sired and Virginia-bred or -sired performers at six furlongs on turf.
Whenigettoheaven became trainer Nolan Ramsey’s first stakes winner when he captured last year’s Ben’s Cat by a neck as the odds-on favorite. A 6-year-old gelding by Street Magician out of multiple stakes-winning turf sprinter Heaven Knows What, Whenigettoheaven was claimed for $62,500 by Ramsey’s grandfather, Kenneth Ramsey.
Although winless in his next six starts, Ramsey displayed confidence when interviewed earlier this week. “I think he’s going to benefit from the three-quarters, especially having two races under his belt off the layoff,” he said.
Ramsey’s words proved prophetic as Whenigettoheaven needed every step of the long stretch to score.
As in last year’s edition, Tidewater stepped to the early lead, and he set a reasonable opening quarter in 23.73 while prompted by Determined Kingdom.
Determined Kingdom, trained by Michael Trombetta, advanced to the lead in the upper stretch without much fuss and, for a moment, looked home free, but Whenigettoheaven gradually reeled him in to prevail in 1:09.57 over the firm turf course.
Had to Have Him rallied for third, a half-length behind the runner-up. Great Idea, Tidewater, Crabs N Beer, Hunter Joe, Tall Order, S S Sinatra, and Sinetic completed the order of finish.
Whenigettoheaven returned $10 to win as the second choice in the wagering. King Covee, Bump N Run, Claudee Boy, Embolden, Slam Notion, and Sue Loves Barbados scratched.
Ramsey was effusive in his praise for Torrealba. “Hat’s off to the rider,” he said via telephone interview after the Ben’s Cat. “I couldn’t have ridden the race better myself. I thought he did an excellent job. He did everything right. Not only does he fit this horse very well, but he’s such a smart rider and such a strong rider, too. He’s really made this horse for me.”
Bred in Maryland by the late R. Larry Johnson, Whenigettoheaven started his career with Johnson and Trombetta, with a highlight coming when he finished third in the 2023 Maryland Million Turf Sprint. Overall, he boasts six wins from 28 starts for $381,890.
Ramsey said that Whenigettoheaven is likely bound for summer racing on turf at Colonial Downs. He finished second to Determined Kingdom in a $150,000 restricted handicap there last summer.
Lifelovenlaughter Grabs Jameela
Trombetta, still smarting from Determined Kingdom’s tough beat, rebounded two races later with Lifelovenlaughter in the Jameela for fillies and mares.
Cutting back to a sprint distance for the first time since her career debut in 2022, Lifelovenlaughter entered the Jameela following a half-length victory in a second-level allowance racing 1 1/16 miles at Laurel on January 6.
Previously, she made two unsuccessful starts at Gulfstream Park over the winter for owner-breeder Stuart Grant’s The Elkstone Group.
“We tried her down at South Florida last year, and she struggled a little bit there,” Trombetta said. “Stuart and I talked about her at the end of the season because she is getting to that point whether] to breed her or kick on. I [told him] that she’s pretty solid, and hopefully we could get her stakes-placed, and we’ll be okay.”
Trombetta found the Jameela’s restricted conditions appealing.
“There’ s only a couple of Maryland-bred [races] on the radar for these kind of horses and this was one of them,” he explained. “I knew the cutback might be risky, but she ran really good.”
Favored Bosserati, fresh off a victory in Pimlico’s The Very One Stakes, made the lead as expected, and she raced the opening quarter in 23.54 seconds while pushed by Lifelovenlaughter.
Bosserati didn’t fire, and Lifelovenlaughter took over the lead under jockey Jorge Ruiz. A plethora of late challengers emerged, but Lifelovenlaughter’s stamina kicked in, and she prevailed by a length over defending race winner Alla Breve in 1:10.01 seconds.
Cut From Class, the longest shot on the board, finished a length behind the runner-up. Then came Hollywood Walk, Gift of Gab, and Bosserati. Next Girl, Moonlit Kiss, and Juniper Juice scratched.
Lifelovenlaughter paid $14.60 to win.
A 5-year-old mare by Lemon Drop Kid, Lifelovenlaughter has five wins from 19 starts for $306,425.
Carryovers in both “Value Pick 5” wagers on Sunday
Live racing resumes Sunday with a nine-race program beginning at 12:10 ET. There is a carryover of $58,193.55 into the Early “Value Pick 5” wager (Races 1-5) and a carryover of $32,328.14 into the Late “Value Pick 5.” (Races 5-9). Both “Value Pick 5” plays offer a low 12% takeout rate.
