Chelsea Durand Photo

Scorpiancer wins G1 Lonesome Glory

by Najja Thompson

Under a patient ride from Sean McDermott, Bruton Street-US' Scorpiancer captured the first Grade 1 win of his career and first Grade 1 race of Belmont Park's Fall Championship meet in winning the 2 ½-mile Lonesome Glory steeplechase event on Thursday. 

Scorpiancer tucked along the inside, content to race toward the rear of the pack as pacesetter Rudyard K led the field of eight through the first nine of 10 overall jumps. In close company were Charminister and Jamarjo who each tracked closely.

Slipping out to two-wide leaving the third turn, Scorpiancer rallied from 20 lengths in the final stretch following the last jump and engaginged Charminister and Jarmarjo at the eighth-pole before quickly leaving the pair to gain the lead.

Extending away to the wire, the 7-year-old Irish-bred son of Scorpion secured the victory by 2 ¼ lengths. He completed the distance in a winning time of 4:46.69 over a firm turf course.

"It's great to get a Grade 1 at Belmont," said McDermott who aboard Scorpiancer for the first time. "Today we didn't go all that quick, I tried to have him a little closer [to the lead] but he's more of a stamina horse than a speed horse. I have no hesitation riding him closer to the front the next time, now that I know a little bit more about him."

Sent off as the 3-5 favorite and trained by Jack Fisher, the 154-pound highweight returned $3.40 for a $2 win wager. Heading into the Lonsesome Glory, Scorpiancer previously raced on August 25 in the Grade 1 New York Turf Writiers Handicap at Saratoga Race Course in which he found himself in similar position in the final turn before finishing third.

"On the turn, I was a little concerned, but he kept coming," said Fisher. "In the Turf Writers Cup, Elizabeth Voss' horse stopped and I thought we got this in the bag. He didn't fire then, but thankfully he did today."

Following Jamarjo in second was Charminister, Swansea Mile, Hisaabaat and Awesome Pearl completed the order of finish.