By Ben Massam
Woodbine's GII Play the King S. attracted many of the usual suspects in the local turf division, but those stalwarts will be confronted by a new shooter in the talented 3-year-old Conquest Enforcer (Into Mischief) Saturday. Since finishing fourth in his career debut in the GII Summer S. for juveniles last September, the talented bay has reeled off three consecutive stakes victories, including a recent tally in the one-mile Charlie Barley S. for 3-year-olds July 3. Trainer Mark Casse has repeatedly resisted any temptation to stretch the Conquest Stables colorbearer out to a longer distance, and spots him in the seven-panel Play the King as a potential stepping stone to bigger races down the line.
“I think this horse has the potential to be a very good horse and I think his wheelhouse is going to be seven-eighths to a mile,” Casse told the Woodbine notes team. “This is a big step for him on Saturday. He's beat up on the 3-year-olds, but now he's got to prove himself against the big boys.”
Conquest Enforcer's recent success has come with a front-running style, and he could very well find himself in a similar position in the Play the King.
Another wildcard entrant in the race is Ivan Dalos' Ami's Flatter (Flatter), who will be trying turf for the first time in his career. Winner of Keeneland's GIII Commonwealth S. going seven furlongs on the main track Apr. 9, the bay reported home a distant fifth in the wake of Frosted (Tapit) in the GI Met Mile at Belmont June 11. If Conquest Enforcer is pressured early, Ami's Flatter could fall into an ideal trip picking up the pieces from off the pace.
Passion for Action (Speightstown), a Ben Hutzel homebred, may pose the biggest threat of the runners already proven at this level. The colt has enjoyed a stellar 4-year-old season to date, having captured three local stakes–including the GIII Vigil S. May 7 and the GII Highlander S. going six panels over this course July 3.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
