Forty Under stays perfect on turf in Pilgrim

ELMONT, N.Y. – Bill Parcells is a two-time Super Bowl-winning coach. Now, he will take a swing at becoming a Breeders’ Cup-winning horse owner.

Forty Under, owned by Parcells’ August Dawn Farm, rallied from midpack under Manny Franco, to run by Somelikeithotbrown in deep stretch and win the Grade 3, $200,000 Pilgrim Stakes by three-quarters of a length on Saturday at Belmont Park.

Somelikeithotbrown, who made the lead on the turn under Irad Ortiz Jr., had to settle for second, two lengths ahead of Social Paranoia. It was another 3 1/2 lengths to Opry, the With Anticipation Stakes winner and 8-5 Pilgrim favorite.

For Forty Under, it was his second consecutive victory on turf after he finished ninth of 10 in his debut.

“When we put him on the turf it was a night-and-day difference,” trainer Jeremiah Englehart said.

Englehart thought Forty Under would be on or close to the lead in the Pilgrim. But Ole Mole, under David Cohen, was more intent on the lead and he went to the front, running a quarter in 23.97 seconds and a half-mile in 48.84 while being pursued by Somelikeithotbrown.

Franco had Forty Under in fifth, but only about three lengths off the pace.

After getting shuffled back a bit entering the far turn, Forty Under came back on, splitting horses to get into contention turning for home.

Somelikeithotbrown came into the lane with a two-length lead, but Forty Under kept on charging, and took over inside the sixteenth pole.

“They ran away from him early,” Franco said. “After they got away, I stayed inside, wait for the right moment to make my move, and he responded very well.”

Forty Under, a son of Uncle Mo, covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.37 and returned $10.80 as the second choice. Forty Under was named such because his $180,000 pricetag at auction was $40,000 less than what Parcells had budgeted for the colt.

Parcells wasn’t in attendance at Belmont Saturday, opting to stay in Saratoga, according to Englehart. Asked if he expects Parcells to be in Louisville for the Breeders’ Cup, Englehart said, “I’ll get him there. I’m so happy for him. This is what he wants to do.”