Conquest Enforcer, feet healthy, will run in Frank Kilroe Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. – Conquest Enforcer will start in Saturday’s Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf at Santa Anita with four healthy feet.

Four weeks ago, the 4-year-old colt was in a different state. Immediately after a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Arcadia Stakes at a mile on turf Feb. 11, Conquest Enforcer was found to have a quarter crack. Through February, the foot was treated by noted farrier Wes Champagne, and it has responded to treatment, according to trainer Phil D’Amato.

“I give all the credit to Wes Champagne,” D’Amato said last Sunday. “We haven’t had any issues since. The foot is ice cold, and the patch looks good.”

Conquest Enforcer was the 6-5 favorite in the Arcadia. Ridden by Flavien Prat, Conquest Enforcer led at the eighth pole and was beaten three-quarters of a length by Bolo.

“I believe if he doesn’t pop the quarter in the race, I think he wins,” D’Amato said. “Flavien noted he had a lack of punch. In the stretch, he put his head up. That foot was bothering him.”

Prat has the mount on Conquest Enforcer in the $400,000 Kilroe Mile. The race has an excellent field, with the graded stakes winners Bal a Bali, Bolo, Dortmund, Ring Weekend, and What a View all probable starters.

Conquest Enforcer won the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile for 3-year-olds on turf Dec. 26 in his first start for D’Amato and owners Loooch Racing Stable, Imaginary Stables, and Raquel Ritchie. By Into Mischief, Conquest Enforcer was bought for $785,000 by his current owners at the Conquest Stable dispersal at Keeneland in November.