Forty Under, Empire of War stand out in Woodhaven

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Forty Under and Empire of War, stakes winners on turf at 2, begin their 3-year-old campaigns in Saturday’s $100,000 Woodhaven Stakes, scheduled for 1 1/16 miles over Aqueduct’s outer turf course.

Despite a forecast that calls for significant rain Friday night into Saturday, it is likely the Woodhaven will remain on the turf as it is closing day at Aqueduct. Both Forty Under and Empire of War won their stakes last year over turf labeled yielding.

Forty Under, trained by Jeremiah Englehart for Hall of Fame football coach Bill Parcells, won the Grade 3 Pilgrim at Belmont Park last September. That earned him a shot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Churchill Downs, where he caught extremely soft ground and finished sixth, beaten 4 1/4 lengths by winner Line of Duty. Englehart blames himself more so than the course condition for the defeat. Englehart said he instructed jockey Manny Franco to keep Forty Under closer to the pace than he prefers.

“I’m fine with him on soft turf,” Englehart said. “I made more of a mistake that day changing his tactics. If it’s on the grass, we’ll run. If it comes off, we’ll probably scratch.”

Franco rides Forty Under from post 3.

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Empire of War, trained by Todd Pletcher for Three Diamonds Farm, is 2 for 2 on turf, with a maiden win on “good” Belmont turf followed by a victory in the Awad Stakes over yielding Aqueduct turf. He hasn’t run since finishing fourth in the off-the-turf Central Park last Nov. 22 at Aqueduct.

Empire of War’s versatile running style may give him a slight edge under Jose Lezcano.

“I think he’s pretty tractable,” Pletcher said. “Jose can see how the race unfolds. If there’s no pace, he’ll be close. If somebody decides to put forth a strong pace, he’s perfectly capable of sitting off it.”

Clint Maroon, also trained by Pletcher, has won two straight races, albeit over firm ground at Gulfstream Park. While Pletcher said yielding ground would be an unknown for the Great Britain-bred son of Oasis Dream, he does like the fact “he’s gotten a little better each time” he’s run.

“He’s trained very well since the allowance race,” Pletcher added, referring to Clint Maroon’s last race.

Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Clint Maroon.

English Bee, who ran well over soft ground at Keeneland last fall, would be a contender on the turf.

If the race comes off the turf, Mount Travers would run back one week after finishing third in the Bridgetown Stakes on turf. Trainer Linda Rice believes Mount Travers “excels on an off track.”

While Mount Travers is designated as a main-track-only entrant, Tybalt, Family Biz, and Five Star General would all be making their turf debuts in this spot.

The Woodhaven goes as race 6 on a nine-race card that also includes a pair of $200,000 New York Stallion Stakes races on dirt for 3-year-olds.

Aqueduct will be dark Easter Sunday. Racing moves to Belmont Park beginning April 26.