Scorpiancer the horse to beat in Lonesome Glory
ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Elizabeth Voss has won the last four Grade 1 steeplechase races run on this circuit, but she will not be represented in Thursday’s Grade 1, $150,000 Lonesome Glory Handicap at Belmont Park.
Jack Fisher, the last trainer not named Voss to win a Grade 1 jump race at a New York Racing Association track, may have the horse to beat in the Lonesome Glory in Scorpiancer. Fisher also sends out Schoodic in the 2 1/2-mile race to be run over eight fences.
The Lonesome Glory, which goes as race 2, follows the $75,000 William Entenmann Memorial; the first two races on Thursday’s 10-race program are steeplechase events. Fisher ran 1-2-3 in last year’s Entenmann.
Scorpiancer finished second in the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick and third in the New York Turf Writers Cup at Saratoga. In the Turf Writers, Scorpiancer was beaten 2 1/2 lengths by Portrade, whom he finished 5 1/4 lengths in front of in the Smithwick.
“I thought the last race was very disappointing,” Fisher said. “I was not happy. I don’t know what happened. We didn’t run as well as I thought we should have.”
Scorpiancer, the 154-pound highweight, won at the 2 1/2-mile distance last October at the Far Hills meet in New Jersey.
“If Scorpiancer runs his race, he wins,” Fisher said. “I’ve got no excuses yet.”
Schoodic was third in last year’s William Entenmann and comes off a fourth-place finish in the Turf Writers, where he was beaten only a half-length by Scorpiancer.
Still, Fisher believes Schoodic is “a cut below the top horses.”
Owner Irvin Naylor has the uncoupled entry of Jamarjo and Charminster in the Lonesome Glory. Jamarjo, trained by Leslie Young, finished third but just a head behind Andi’amu in a handicap race at Monmouth in June. Andi’amu came back to run second in the Turf Writers.
Charminster, who at 10 is the elder statesman of this group, was beaten only 1 1/2 lengths by Bob Le Beau in this race last year at 17-1. Trained by Cyril Murphy, Charminster was beaten nine lengths when fifth in the New York Turf Writers, his first start off a three-month layoff.
“On our very best form, he’s right there in the mix with these horses at the moment, and I think there is an improvement to come off his Turf Writers,” Murphy said. “The long run from the last fence doesn’t suit us, but he goes there with a live shot.”
Swansea Mile and Hisaabaat are making their U.S. debuts for trainer Richard Hendriks. Hisaabaat has not run in 13 months.
Rudyard K and Awesome Pearl complete the field.
◗ Fisher will try to duplicate his 1-2-3 finish in last year’s William Entenmann when he sends out Special Skills, Ice It, and Dye Fore in this year’s renewal of the 2 1/4-mile steeplechase event.
“The way I look at novice horses is I give them a shot to show me something,” Fisher said. “Obviously, Special Skills and Ice It are a cut above Dye Fore. Dye Fore had a little problem; hopefully, we corrected it.”
Detroit Blues, an allowance hurdle winner at Saratoga after a runner-up finish over the flat at Parx, and Hardrock Eleven, who won at Saratoga after running second to Detroit Blues, are the ones to beat.
◗ With steeplechase events as the first two races Thursday, there is a change to the wagering menu on the 10-race card. The pick five will begin on race 3. The early pick four will begin on race 4. The late pick four will begin on race 7.