Enforceable (Tapit) earned 10 points towards a start in the GI Kentucky Derby with a late-rallying victory in the GIII Lecomte S. at Fair Grounds Saturday. It was the second straight win in this event for trainer Mark Casse, who captured last year's renewal with eventual GI Preakness S. victor War of Will (War Front).
Bet down to 6-1 from a 15-1 morning-line quote, Enforceable was away well from post 10, but was in no hurry, settling near the back of the pack as longshots Bango (Congrats) and ShaShashakemeup (Shackleford) battled through opening splits of :23.46 and :47.41. Making eye-catching progress on the backstretch run, the gray launched a six-wide bid in the lane, emerging from between horses with a powerful run. Silver State (Hard Spun) and 'TDN Rising Star' Mr. Monomoy (Palace Malice) came running after him in the final sixteenth, but Enforceable proved too tough, crossing the line a 1 1/2 lengths in front.
“On the backside he was just dragging me where I wanted to be and on the second turn he made a big run,” said winning rider Julien Leparoux. “He is the type of horse that more distance is better. I'm excited for the rest of year.”
“He has trained great here and has filled out and matured,” said Casse's assistant David Carroll. “Julien gave him a beautiful ride. We are so proud of the horse.”
Enforceable hit the board in a pair of dirt sprints at Churchill Downs in May and was fifth when extending to two turns and trying grass at Saratoga in July. Earning his diploma in a nine-panel test on the Spa's main track Aug. 22, he was third in Keeneland's GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity S. Oct. 5 and was fourth last time in a sloppy renewal of the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill Downs Nov. 30.
Saturday, Fair Grounds
LECOMTE S.-GIII, $200,000, Fair Grounds, 1-18, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.72, ft.
1–ENFORCEABLE, 122, c, 3, by Tapit&hid=28277">Tapit
1st Dam: Justwhistledixie (MGSW & GISP, $449,427), by Dixie Union
2nd Dam: General Jeanne, by Honour and Glory
3rd Dam: Ahpo Hel, by Mr. Leader
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($775,000
RNA Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-John C. Oxley; B-Clearsky Farms (KY);
T-Mark E. Casse; J-Julien R. Leparoux. $120,000. Lifetime
Record: GISP, 7-2-1-2, $267,150. *1/2 to New Year's Day
(Street Cry {Ire}), GISW, $1,154,000; full to Mohaymen,
MGSW, $998,417; and Kingly, GSW, $267,200.
2–Silver State, 122, c, 3, Hard Spun–Supreme, by Empire
Maker. ($450,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-Winchell Thoroughbreds
LLC & Willis Horton Racing LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred
Holdings LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $40,000.
3–Mr. Monomoy, 122, c, 3, Palace Malice–Drumette, by Henny
Hughes. ($60,000 Wlg '17 KEENOV; €180,000 2yo '19
ARQMA). O-Madaket Stables LLC, Dubb, Michael & Doheny
Racing Stable; B-FPF LLC & Highfield Ranch (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $20,000.
Margins: 1HF, NK, 5 1/4. Odds: 6.80, 3.20, 6.60.
Also Ran: Finnick the Fierce, Scabbard, Shashashakemeup, Excession, Halo Again, Bango, Perfect Star, Jack the Umpire, Sycamore Run, New Eagle. Scratched: Lynn's Map. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Pedigree Notes:
Enforceable is the 80th graded stakes winner and 132nd black-type winner for leading sire Tapit. He is also the 18th graded victor and 42nd black-type scorer out of a daughter of Dixie Union. The gray is a full-brother to MGSW & GISP Mohaymen, a $2.2 million KEESEP buy, who now stands at Shadwell Farm. He is also a full sibling to GSW Kingly and is a half-brother to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner New Year's Day (Street Cry {Ire}), sire of MGISW Maximum Security. Their dam, MGSW & GISP Justwhistledixie, produced a colt by Pioneerof the Nile in 2018 and an Arrogate filly May 11 of last year. The 14-year-old mare was bred back to Quality Road last season. This is also the family of MGISW Got Stormy (Get Stormy), MGSW Smooth Air (Smooth Jazz) and GSW Overdriven (Tale of the Cat).
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