The Mister Diz Stakes is named in honor of the horse who was chosen Maryland-bred champion four consecutive years, 1968-1971. So it was fitting that Ben’s Cat became a four-time winner of the $75,000 Mister Diz at Pimlico on Saturday afternoon.

Launching his 7-year-old campaign against a field of five Maryland-breds in the state’s first turf race of the season, Ben’s Cat ($2.80) took command at the eighth pole and easily drew clear to win by 1 3/4 lengths while completing five furlongs on a firm course in 57.74 seconds.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Jockey Ramon Dominguez said Saturday that the brain injury he suffered in a spill at Aqueduct in January was more severe than he first thought, and while he continues to make progress his return to the saddle is still several months away.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer David Nunn said he had no intention of running Withgreatpleasure in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Ruffian Handicap at Aqueduct.

But a sharp workout earlier in the week and with the race shaping up, in Nunn’s words, “a soft Grade 2” he changed his mind.

Nunn was rewarded for the change of heart when Johnny Velazquez shot Withgreatpleasure through a gaping hole along the inside at the five-sixteenths pole, and she outlasted 4-5 favorite My Wandy’s Girl to the wire to win the Ruffian by three-quarters of a length.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Tiz Miz Sue, Don’t Tell Sophia, and On Fire Baby all worked within minutes of each other Saturday at Oaklawn in preparation for the Grade 1, $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap. The 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares will be run Friday as part of the weeklong Racing Festival of the South.

Tiz Miz Sue, winner of last month’s Grade 3, $150,000 Azeri under regular rider Joe Rocco Jr., went a half-mile in an effortless 50.60 seconds on a fast track, with clockers catching her final quarter-mile in 22.80 seconds.

No fewer than a half-dozen workouts were recorded at several Kentucky venues Saturday as final serious preparations were made for the annual marquee race at Keeneland, the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes.

Jockey Luis Quinonez will travel to Will Rogers Downs near Tulsa on Tuesday to team with Okie Ride in the $55,000 TRAO Classic Sprint. The six-furlong race is restricted to Oklahoma-breds, and the nine-horse field of 3-year-olds and up includes the race’s defending champ, Stickcrossmountain, and a five-time stakes winner, Steal Your Face.

Jazzin’ Okie will be giving up recency on Monday when she makes her first start in more than five months in the $55,000 Cherokee Casino Distaff Sprint at Will Rogers Downs. But what she lacks in recency, she makes up for in class.

Jazzin’ Okie is one of just two stakes winners in the six-furlong race for Oklahoma-bred fillies and mares. The other is Lady Jensen.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockey David Flores will ride Mizdirection in Saturday’s $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes at Santa Anita as a one-race replacement for regular rider Mike Smith, trainer Mike Puype said.

Flores rode Mizdirection to a half-length victory in the Las Cienegas in April 2012, when the race was moved from turf to dirt because of wet weather. Smith has ridden Mizdirection in her last three starts, including a win in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint here last November. He is booked to ride War Academy in the $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park next Saturday.

Four of the six horses entered in Tuesday night’s $29,000 allowance feature at Charles Town last raced 4 1/2 furlongs on the West Virginia track’s March 13 card. Of that group, Just Fuhr Real was the only one to figure in the exacta when he got up by a neck.

But if you believe in Beyer Speed Figures, Just Fuhr Real not only did not run as fast as the horses who finished 3-4-5 three races later on that same evening, he’s also the slowest horse in Tuesday’s field going 4 1/2 furlongs in a second-level allowance also open to nonwinners of four lifetime.

Trainer Tony Dutrow appears to be holding a pair of aces for Monday’s $47,000 feature at Parx Racing. The eight-horse field for the first-level allowance at six furlongs includes Dutrow’s uncoupled entry of 3-year-olds Southern Honor and Edge of Reality.