Enforceable rallies to win Lecomte Stakes

NEW ORLEANS – It’s a family affair over at Mark Casse’s Fair Grounds barn. David Carroll serves as Casse’s assistant and his wife, Kim, an exercise rider for decades, has been getting on a 3-year-old colt named Enforceable every morning.

Saturday, in the Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte Stakes, Enforceable did both Carrolls, Casse, and owner John Oxley proud, running a thoroughly professional race on the way to a 1 1/2-length victory over Silver State. Mr. Monomoy finished third, a neck behind Silver State, and Finnick the Fierce was fourth, but more than five lengths behind Mr. Monomoy. The top four finishers got 10, four, two, and one qualifying points, respectively, toward the Kentucky Derby. Enforceable’s total stands at 13.

It was the second straight Lecomte winner for Casse and his Fair Grounds team following War of Will’s victory a year ago. Enforceable isn’t much like War of Will, who was a physically dominant hulk of an early-season 3-year-old, and one with speed. Enforceable has less heft but is an appealing, good-feeling gray son of Tapit who enjoys training and clearly stays a route of ground. Offspring of Tapit are known for quirkiness and hot-blooded behavior, but Enforceable does things the right way.

“He wasn’t always like that,” David Carroll said. “Kim’s done a great job with him.

Where War of Will liked to take charge and overwhelm his opponents, Enforceable is more comfortable letting others do the early work, waiting until mid-race to start playing his hand.

“He’s maybe kind of one-paced, but he’s got a long stride and he should keep going,” said winning rider Julien Leparoux. Leparoux took over Saturday for Florent Geroux, who opted to ride Mr. Monomoy.

Enforceable had post 10 Saturday and quickly dropped toward the tail of the field, settling in 11th around the first turn as Bango, tracked by Shashashakemeup, set a strong tempo, going the first quarter mile in 23.46 seconds and getting the half in 47.41 as Mr. Monomoy sat just behind them in the pocket.

Enforceable starting moving before the three-furlong pole, going past Silver State, attacking the lead pack at the five-sixteenths, and angling out six or seven paths off the rail by the time he straightened for home. Bango faded off the scene as Shashashakemeup briefly led and Mr. Monomoy got through along the inside, but Enforceable had made the front by the eighth pole, going clear and skipping along to a clear-cut victory. He ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in a solid 1:43.72 and paid $15.60 to win.

Mr. Monomoy, as he’d done when beaten by Lynn’s Map in a Dec. 21 allowance race, lost his momentum just before the wire. On the one hand, he did best of all the horses racing close to the pace; on the other, he saved all the ground, got through when he needed to, and still was outfinished for second.

Silver State ran well in defeat while making his third career start, stakes debut, and first trip around two turns. Second choice at 3-1, a few dollars behind favored Scabbard, his journey got off to a difficult start when he stumbled leaving the starting gate, and jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. found himself farther behind the leaders than planned. Silver State appears to be a horse with more speed and gears than Enforceable, but he stuck to the inside and fell several lengths behind the eventual winner past the three-furlong pole. Santana waited until the quarter pole approached to swing outside, whereupon he found himself hemmed in by Enforceable and Finnick the Fierce while trying to unwind. Finally clear, Silver State idled slightly at the furlong pole before kicking in the last 100 yards, gaining some ground on the winner while passing Enforceable.

Finnick the Fierce ran right with the top two at the three-sixteenths but was outfinished, while Scabbard, who wound up fifth, was stopped behind a wall of horses at the quarter pole and in tight quarters late, but lacked robust acceleration after finding some room in upper stretch.

Behind him came Shashashakemeup, Excession, Halo Again, Bango, Perfect Star, Jack the Umpire, Sycamore Run, and New Eagle. Lynn’s Map was scratched because he drew post 14.

Enforceable, all things being well, will go on to the 1 1/8-mile Risen Star Stakes here Feb. 15, Carroll said, and his connections believe he will improve as distances lengthen. Enforceable won’t lack for foundation after six starts as a 2-year-old during a campaign that began at Saratoga. He was produced by the exceptional Dixie Union mare Justwhistledixie, whose offspring include Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner New Years Day, the sire of Maximum Security; Mohaymen, a four-time Grade 2 winner in dirt routes; and Kingly, winner of the Grade 3 La Jolla Stakes last year.