Bob Le Beau has earned top weight in Lonesome Glory

ELMONT, N.Y. – With victories in three of his last four starts, including a dominant score in the Grade 1 New York Turf Writers Cup at Saratoga, Bob Le Beau will be the horse to beat in Thursday’s Grade 1, $150,000 Lonesome Glory Handicap at Belmont Park.

The Lonesome Glory, run at 2 1/2 miles, is one of two steeplechase events on a 10-race program that begins at 12:55 p.m. Eastern. The Lonesome Glory goes as race 2, right after the $75,000 William Entenmann Memorial Hurdle.

The margin of victory for Bob Le Beau in the Turf Writers is a bit deceiving because he was getting a challenge from the 12-year-old Divine Fortune, who fell over the last fence and sadly was ultimately euthanized. Still, that win and his win in the National Hunt Cup in May demonstrated that Bob Le Beau excels at the marathon distances of 2 3/8 miles to 2 1/2 miles.

For winning the Turf Writers, Bob Le Beau, trained by Elizabeth Voss, is the highweight at 154 pounds in the Lonesome Glory, spotting 4 to 14 pounds to the rest of the field.

Charminster finished third in the Turf Writers, beaten 11 lengths. But that race was “an afterthought,” according to trainer Cyril Murphy, who had been hoping to run his 9-year-old gelding elsewhere. It was only his second start since May, and Charminster was getting only two pounds from Bob Le Beau. On Thursday, he gets 12 pounds.

“We’d be reluctant to try it at level weights,” Murphy said. “He wouldn’t have won [the Turf Writers], but he could have been a closer second. He had to swerve to avoid the misfortune with Divine Fortune. He was coming with a strong run. He’s a legitimate horse if he shows up with that effort from the other day.”

Three years ago, Charminster finished third, beaten two lengths, in the Lonesome Glory.

Murphy also sends out Dawalan, who makes his first start in this country after competing in hurdle races in Britain

“We’re looking to get started, and this looked as good a place as any,” Murphy said. “The division is open, and he could jump up and get a piece of it.”

Two trainers better known for their success in flat races will have runners in the Lonesome Glory.

At the behest of owner Rich Newman, Charlton Baker claimed Diplomat for $40,000 off a steeplechase win at Saratoga on Sept. 3. Diplomat finished sixth, beaten just 4 1/4 lengths, in the A.P. Smithwick on Aug. 6.

“To me, it will be exciting, something different,” Baker said. “One of those trainers called me and talked to me and said just train him the same, maybe breeze him a little further and a little slower. He looked like he has a little back class. He won pretty good in Saratoga. It was a cheap race, but you never know. He’s doing good. We’re going to go in there like we’re the favorite, confident.”

David Jacobson claimed All Together for $30,000 on Aug. 5 and ran him back in the Turf Writers, where he finished fourth. He is coming out of a last-place finish in a $25,000 claimer over the flat last Friday.

◗ Schoodic, second to Bob Le Beau in the Turf Writers, heads a field of 10 entered in the Entenmann at 2 1/4 miles. Schoodic carries 156 pounds, 18 more than he did in the Turf Writers.