Scorpiancer grinds his way to Grade 1 win in Lonesome Glory
ELMONT, N.Y. - Scorpiancer had disappointed his connections in the Grade 1 New York Turf Writers Cup at Saratoga. As he watched his gelding still seventh entering the far turn of the Grade 1 Lonesome Glory Stakes at Belmont Park, trainer Jack Fisher thought he was going to be disappointed again.
But Scorpiancer, the 3-5 favorite, kept persevering under Sean McDermott and despite having to come six wide in the stretch he was able to strike the front inside the sixteenth pole and edge away to a 2 1/4-length victory in the $150,000 Lonesome Glory for jumpers.
Jamarjo finished second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Charminster. He was followed, in order, by Swansea Mile, Hisaabaat, Awesome Pearl, and Schoodic.
The race was marred by the fall of pacesetting Rudyard K over the 10th and final fence. Rudyard K was vanned off and later deemed to be uninjured. Jockey Jack Doyle was removed from the turf course on a stretcher and taken to North Shore University Hospital, where he was being evaluated for a potential hip injury.
For Scorpiancer, a 7-year-old son of Scorpion, the win was his first from six starts this year. He last won at Far Hills going this same 2 1/2-mile distance last October.
In the Turf Writers, Scorpiancer ran third behind Portrade, who was not in this race.
“I was really disappointed he got beat there,” said Fisher, who trains Scorpiancer for Bruton Street U.S. “I was watching him on the turn here and I thought we’re going to get beat again, but he kept chugging away. I don’t think he has a lot of speed, he just keeps churning.”
McDermott was riding Scorpiancer for the first time and wanted to have him a little bit closer to the slow early pace “but he’s more a stamina horse than a speed horse,” McDermott said. “But I have no hesitation riding him closer to the front the next time now that I know a little bit more about him.”
Scorpiancer covered the 2 1/2 miles in 4:46.69 and returned $3.30 as the favorite.
Fisher said Scorpiancer now would be pointed to the $350,000 Grand National at Far Hills on Oct. 15.
One race earlier, Hardrock Eleven ($11) was allowed to get loose on the lead and was never threatened winning the $75,000 William Entenmann Memorial Hurdle Stakes for novices by 2 1/4 lengths. Brendon Crowley rode Hardrock Eleven, a 6-year-old gelding by Rock Hard Ten, for trainer Paul Fout and the Virginia Lazenby Racing Stable.