Two Out Hero takes on elders as E.P. Taylor turf course reopens
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Racing returns to Woodbine’s main turf course for the first time in nearly a year in Sunday’s featured conditioned allowance/optional claimer going seven furlongs.
Known locally as the E.P. Taylor turf, the roomy 1 1/2-mile course underwent extensive renovations on the backstretch following last year’s King’s Plate card in mid-August. It was initially on target to reopen in September, in time for the important Woodbine Mile card, but is ahead of schedule due to ideal weather.
“We are pleased to be opening our newly renovated E.P. Taylor turf ahead of schedule,” said Tim Lawson, Woodbine’s vice president of racing. “This essential project will ensure sustainable and exciting turf racing for years to come.”
Two Out Hero, the lone 3-year-old in the 11-horse field, could go favored under Rafael Hernandez. The Kevin Attard-trained son of War Front won the 6 1/2-furlong Soaring Free Stakes over the main turf here last August in his first start after a blowout debut score on the Tapeta.
Two Out Hero struggled over the winter in stakes on Tapeta at Turfway Park. He was given a break after a chalky fourth here in the April 26 Woodstock Stakes and most recently rallied for second when back on Lasix in a 7 1/2-furlong inner turf tilt at this level.
Also entered are Wicked Django, First Empire, Friendly Ghost, War Strategy, and War Bomber.
Wicked Django, victorious in the Grade 2 Autumn in the fall of 2024, is coming off a troubled second at this level over 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf. That was arguably his best performance on the grass and he might not mind turning back in distance in his second try for trainer Renico Lafond.
First Empire captured the 2021 Soaring Free for trainer Mark Casse and has been campaigned sporadically ever since. He has made both his 2026 starts at this level around two turns on the inner turf, finishing a front-running third off a 20-month layoff June 28 before a wide fourth a month later.
Friendly Ghost pops up with a huge effort on occasion, which was the case when he took the Elgin Stakes for graduates of Canadian yearling sales last August. Following two consecutive eighth-place finishes that were separated by a winter layoff, he cleared the first allowance condition at 11-1 on June 21. His lone turf attempt resulted in a third-place finish over good ground.
War Strategy was in drab form when he prevailed in a first-level allowance/optional claimer on the Tapeta July 11 in his first try off a $32,000 claim by trainer Mike Wright Jr. The 7-year-old cleared the first two allowance conditions in a pair of seven-furlong main turf sprints here in the summer of 2024.
The classy veteran War Bomber began his campaign in April at Gulfstream Park with back-to-back fringe finishes. After getting fried in a speed duel there in the May 16 Mr. Steele Stakes, the 9-year-old ran fourth here in a fast conditioned allowance/optional claimer where Piper’s Factor lowered the course record for 7 1/2 furlongs on the inner turf.
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