Conquest Enforcer might alter tactics in Allied Forces Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Mark Casse thought enough of Conquest Enforcer to run him in a Grade 2 stakes as a first-time starter. Though he didn’t win that day, Conquest Enforcer has won three stakes since. On Sunday, he’ll seek to pad his résumé when he heads a field of six entered to run six furlongs on turf in the $100,000 Allied Forces at Belmont Park.

Every horse in the field is a stakes winner, but Conquest Enforcer is one of just two who have won a stakes on turf. Conquest Enforcer has won two stakes on grass at distances of a mile and 1 1/16 miles. In his most recent start, the Grade 2 Play the King against older horses, Conquest Enforcer set the pace before finishing third, beaten one length.

“He doesn’t like to be hit,” Casse said. “I wasn’t so sure he wasn’t going to win, and Patrick [Husbands] reached back and cracked him, and when he did, he jumped to his left lead, and it cost him a little momentum.”

Javier Castellano rides Conquest Enforcer from the outside post.

Though Conquest Enforcer has been on the lead in his three most recent efforts, Casse said he’d like to see Castellano get him off the pace Sunday.

“There looks to be enough speed in there,” Casse said.

Among the speedy types is Too Discreet, who won the Paradise Creek Stakes going seven furlongs here in May. Most recently, he set a rapid pace in the Quick Call Stakes at Saratoga and finished third, beaten a length.

Trainer Christophe Clement said he felt the horse reacted adversely to the hot conditions at Saratoga that day.

“He was a little bit distressed after the race because of the heat,” Clement said. “That’s the reason why I’m glad the weather will break on Sunday.”

After hot and humid conditions persisted on Friday’s opening-day card, temperatures were supposed to be in the low 80s with less humidity on Sunday.

Bust Another, Rated R Superstar, and Front Pocket Money are all stakes winners on dirt. Don’t Be So Salty won a stakes on synthetic.

Allied Forces, Race 5

Key Contenders

Conquest Enforcer, by Into Mischief

Last 3 Beyers: 95-88-101

◗ Won both of his stakes restricted to 3-year-olds this year, including beating four next-out winners in the Charlie Barley Stakes at Woodbine on July 3.

◗ Though he beat only three rivals in the Queenston Stakes, all three of those rivals have since come back to win.

◗ Showed the ability to rate in winning the Cup and Saucer Stakes at 2 last October.

Too Discreet, by Discreet Cat

Last 3 Beyers: 92-78-86

◗ May have had an adverse reaction to heat when finishing third in the Quick Call Stakes last out at Saratoga. Showed the ability to rate on the lead in winning the Paradise Creek Stakes going seven furlongs here in May.

Front Pocket Money, by Uncle Mo

Last 3 Beyers: 82-89-87

◗ Though he won the Grade 3 Jersey Shore Stakes on dirt on the lead, he showed the ability to rate in winning an allowance on the turf at Churchill Downs in May.