In the $100,000 Ben’s Cat Stakes held on a firm turf course, Maryland-bred Whenigettoheaven, bred by the late Larry Johnson, secured a narrow victory over Determined Kingdom, a horse owned by Johnson’s estate. This marked Whenigettoheaven’s second consecutive win in the race, finishing six furlongs in 1:09.57. The event was notable as the first under a new Maryland-Virginia breeding agreement allowing horses bred and sired in both states to compete for combined purses totaling $1.75 million, significantly higher than previous Maryland-only stakes. While the program has faced some concern in Maryland, it has been well-received in Virginia.

Whenigettoheaven, trained by Nolan Ramsey and ridden by JG Torrealba, demonstrated resilience by closing strongly in the stretch to hold off Determined Kingdom, who had led mid-race. The win marked Whenigettoheaven’s sixth career victory and boosted his earnings to over $380,000. Ramsey praised Torrealba’s skill and connection with the horse, and indicated that Whenigettoheaven may next compete in a state-restricted race at Colonial Downs, continuing the rivalry with Determined Kingdom.