Surprising Soul pulls an upset in Lonesome Glory

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Ricky Hendriks had three scenarios in his head about how Surprising Soul could be successful in Thursday’s Grade 1, $150,000 Lonesome Glory Handicap Steeplechase at Belmont Park.

“The first plan was to lay him second, the second plan was to lay him third, and [plan] C was to put him in front,” Hendriks said.

Plan C turned out to be A-okay for Surprising Soul, who led all over 10 fences and the entire 2 1/2 miles to win the Lonesome Glory by 3 3/4 lengths. The 11-year-old Hinterland finished second in this race for the fourth time since 2015. It was 3 1/4 lengths back to All the Way Jose, who finished a half-length in front of his stablemate, the 4-5 favorite Winston C.

Hendriks trains Surprising Soul for his mother Wendy and said it was her first Grade 1 victory.

Surprising Soul was making just his third start this year. He had not run since finishing second, beaten one length by Scorpiancer, in the Grade 1 Iroquois at Percy Warner in Nashville in May.

Hendriks said he skipped Saratoga because running Surprising Soul too often has backfired in the past and he wanted to run in this race and the Grade 1 Grand National at Far Hills on Oct. 19.

Ross Geraghty, the rider of Surprising Soul, said he was looking for a horse to follow in the early stages of the Lonesome Glory.

“I was hoping there was someone in front of me to give me a lead [horse], when there wasn’t I just went on and did my own thing,” Geraghty said. “He didn’t care, he was happy. I was afraid they were going to catch me late but thankfully they didn’t.”

Hendriks was also concerned that Surprising Soul was going to get caught since he thought the last half-mile of the race being run without a hurdle was going to work against him.

“I thought they would run him down and he was going to be third or fourth,” Hendriks said.

Surprising Soul, a 7-year-old gelding by Perfect Soul, covered the 2 1/2 miles in 4:34.31 and returned $37.20 to win.

Surprising Soul’s win sets up a potential showdown for the Eclipse Award in the Grand National on Oct. 19 between him, Scorpiancer, and Winston C.

Winston C, who won the A.P. Smithwick and New York Turf Writers Cup in Saratoga, could not overcome a 160-pound impost on Thursday and a bobble over the ninth fence. He finished fourth, beaten 7 1/2 lengths.

“He almost fell, that didn’t help him, but he ran his race,” trainer Jonathan Sheppard said. “We’ll meet them again at Far Hills at level weights.”