The Fields Stable’s Bob Le Beau, runaway winner of Saratoga Race Course’s New York Turf Writers Cup Handicap (Gr. 1), has been nominated to Belmont Park’s $150,000 Lonesome Glory Handicap (Gr. 1) on Thursday, Sept. 24.
The Irish-bred was among 11 nominees to the 2 1/2-mile race over National Fences. Trained by Elizabeth Voss, Bob Le Beau climbed to the top of the National Steeplechase Association’s earnings table with his 7 1/4-length score in Saratoga’s premier jump race. He also won the Radnor Hunt Races’ National Hunt Cup (Gr. 3) in May.
Leading owner Irv Naylor nominated two contenders to the Lonesome Glory, named for the Racing Hall of Fame member who won five Eclipse Awards in the 1990s. Charminster finished third in the New York Turf Writers. Nominated for his U.S. debut is Dawalan, a multiple winner in English handicap hurdles. Both are trained by Cyril Murphy.
Jimmy Day nominated his two Saratoga allowance hurdle winners, Bruce Smart’s Bonded and Magalen O. Bryant’s Plated. The Virginia-based trainer had a big Saratoga meet and also nominated Smart’s Orchestra Leader, who finished second in an optional allowance hurdle on Aug. 19.
Day’s third Saratoga winner, Diplomat, was claimed from an optional allowance hurdle by Newman Racing and was nominated to the Lonesome Glory by trainer Charlton Baker.
Jack Fisher, runaway leader in the trainer standings, nominated two members of his powerful stable to the Lonesome Glory. Gil Johnston’s Syros ran sixth in the New York Turf Writers, and Sonny Via’s Hinterland made his U.S. debut with a seventh-place finish in the New York Turf Writers.
Fisher also had one get away from him at Saratoga, the veteran All Together. Claimed by owner-trainer David Jacobson on Aug. 5, All Together ran fourth in the New York Turf Writers and then swung right back for a third in an optional allowance hurdle six days later.
Racing Hall of Fame trainer Janet Elliot nominated Gregory Hawkins’ Alajmal, who came back from a long layoff to finish fifth in the New York Turf Writers.
Here are the nominees to the $150,000 Lonesome Glory Handicap (Gr. 1).
Alajmal. 2008 b. g., First Samurai—Alattrah, by Shadeed. Owner: Gregory D. Hawkins. Trainer: Janet Elliot. Breeder: Shadwell Farm (Ky.) 2015 record: 1-0-0-0, $6,000. 2014 NSA record: No starts. In first race in 14 months, finished fifth in New York Turf Writers Cup (Gr. 1). Bookended his 2013 season with victories in the Carolina Cup and Marion duPont Scott Colonial Cup (Gr. 1).
All Together. 2005 b. g., Danzig–Unify, by Farma Way. Owner-trainer: David Jacobson. Breeder: Jayeff B Stables (Ky.). 2015 record: 6-0-2-2, $38,750. 2014 record: 7-1-3-0, $62,000. Classy, consistent Danzig gelding was claimed by New York flat trainer from an Aug. 5 optional allowance hurdle for $30,000 and spun right back with fourth in New York Turf Writers Cup (Gr. 1) and a third in a Saratoga optional allowance hurdle on Sept. 2. Won Virginia Fall’s 2014 W. Gary Baker Memorial, then finished second in International Gold Cup’s David L. “Zeke” Ferguson Memorial (Gr. 3).
Bob Le Beau (Ire). 2007 dk. b. or. br. g., Big Bad Bob—Shine Silently, by Bering (GB). Owner: The Fields Stable. Trainer: Elizabeth Voss. Breeder: Anamoine Ltd. (Ire). 2015 record: 4-3-0-0, $141,250. 2014 record: 4-0-1-0, $9,450. Scored runaway victory in New York Turf Writers Cup (Gr. 1) on Aug. 27 after fourth in Saratoga’s A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Gr. 1) on Aug. 6. Opened 2015 with win in National Hunt Cup (Gr. 3) at Radnor Hunt Races in suburban Philadelphia on May 16 and won Parx flat race for hurdlers on July 12.
Bonded (Ire). 2007 b. g., Oasis Dream (GB)—Lovealoch, by Lomond. Owner: Bruce Smart Jr. Trainer: Jimmy Day. Breeders: Michael Woodlock and Seamus Kennedy (Ire). 2015 NSA record: 2-1-0-0, $40,000. 2014 record: No starts. Won Saratoga allowance hurdle on Aug. 13 after fifth in flat race for hurdlers at Parx. Won maiden victory over hurdles at 2013 Virginia Gold Cup meet and went to the sidelines after second-place finish in a maiden flat race at Colonial Downs that June.
Charminster (Ire). 2006 b. g., Broadway Flyer—Monteleena, by Montelimar. Owner: Irvin S. Naylor. Trainer: Cyril Murphy. Breeder: Raymond Cahalane (Ire). 2015 record: 4-1-0-2, $49,500. 2014 record: 2-0-1-0, $11,700. Finished third in Saratoga’s New York Turf Writers Cup (Gr. 1) on Aug. 27. Won Ratings Handicap at Iroquois Steeplechase on May 11 before third to Bob Le Beau in Parx flat race for hurdlers on July 12.
Dawalan (Fr). 2010 gr. or ro. g., Azamour (Ire)—Daltawa, by Miswaki. Owner: Irvin S. Naylor. Trainer: Cyril Murphy. Breeder: Aga Khan Studs (Fr). 2015 NSA record: No starts. Accomplished handicap hurdler was overwhelmed in two handicap stakes at Cheltenham and Aintree this past spring before being imported.
Diplomat. 2009 b. g., Kitten’s Joy—Waki Affair, by Miswaki. Owner: Newman Racing. Trainer: Charlton Baker. Breeders: Ken and Sarah Ramsey (Ky.) 2015 record: 5-2-0-0, $95,000. 2014 NSA record: No starts. Claimed from victory in Saratoga optional allowance hurdle on Sept. 2. Led at last in A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Gr. 1) on Aug. 6 and faded to finish sixth, beaten 4 1/14 lengths. Began 2015 season with half-length victory in $75,000 Carolina Cup for novices, then finished fifth in David Semmes Memorial (Gr. 2) at Virginia Gold Cup on May 2 and fourth in Parx Racing flat race for hurdlers on July 12. Bred by champion owners-breeders Ken and Sarah Ramsey and is a full brother to stakes-placed Kitten Love.
Hinterland (Fr). 2008 b. g., Poliglote (GB)—Queen’s Place, by Diamond Prospect. Owner: Harold A. “Sonny” Via Jr. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Breeder: Eric Aubree and Christian Bresson (Fr). 2015 NSA record: 1-0-0-0, $0. In American debut, ran seventh in Saratoga’s New York Turf Writers Cup (Gr. 1) on Aug. 27. Finished third in Tingle Creek Steeplechase at Sandown.
Orchestra Leader. 2009 b. g., Van Nistelrooy—Magic of Life, by Seattle Slew. Owner: S. Bruce Smart. Trainer: Jimmy Day. Breeder: Strategy Bloodstock (Ky.) 2015 record: 5-1-3-0, $40,500. 2014 record: 6-1-0-2, $12,500. Finished second in Saratoga optional allowance hurdle on Aug. 19 after fifth in Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes. Opened 2015 season with win in Foxfield Spring’s Daniel Van Clief Memorial optional allowance race on April 25, then had second-place finishes in High Hope optional allowance hurdle at Lexington, Ky., and in Ratings Handicap at Parx Racing on July 14.
Plated. 2009 b. g., Tiznow—Imaginary Gold, by Mr. Prospector. Owner: Magalen O. Bryant. Trainer: Jimmy Day. Breeder: Overbrook Farm (Ky.) 2015 NSA record: 4-1-1-2, $53,100. 2014 record: 2-1-0-1, $20,000. Won Saratoga allowance hurdle on Aug. 17. Finished third in tough Fair Hill Ratings Handicap Hurdle on May 23. Won maiden victory last fall at International Gold Cup.
Syros. 2008 b. g., Dynaformer—Meridiana (Ger), by Lomitas (GB). Owner: Gil Johnston. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Breeders: Jon and Sarah Kelly (Ky.) 2015 record: 4-1-1-0, $66,750. 2014 NSA record: 9-2-3-2, $90,600. Finished sixth in Saratoga’s New York Turf Writers Cup (Gr. 1) on Aug. 27. Won Iroquois Steeplechase’s Marcellus Frost Novice Stakes before fourth in Saratoga’s Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes. Finished a closing second in the 2015 Carolina Cup. Closed out 2014 with second-place finishes in the Foxbrook Champion Hurdle and AFLAC Supreme Hurdle. Had a win and third in Saratoga allowance hurdles last year.