Enforceable

8) ENFORCEABLE (c, Tapit—Justwhistledixie, by Dixie Union)
O-John Oxley. B-Clearsky Farm (Ky). T-Mark Casse. Sales History: $775,000 RNA yrl '18 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP,
7-2-1-2, $267,150.
Last Start: 2nd GII Risen Star S. Div. 1
Accomplishments Include: 1st GIII Lecomte S., FG, Jan. 18; 3rd GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, KEE, Oct. 5
Next Start: Possible for GII Louisiana Derby, FG, Mar. 21
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 38.

After Enforceable won the GIII Lecomte S. in January, I cautioned in his Top 12 write-up that deep closers can be dangerous to fall in love with as Derby prospects, because their success is so often pace- and trip-dependent. That logic came into play in Saturday's stronger division of the GII Risen Star S., because once it became evident that no one would go gunning with Mr. Monomoy, the late runners had to work additionally hard to try and close the gap on the impressive (92 Beyer) front-running winner. This $775,000 KEESEP RNA now owned by John Oxley was content to lag in last onto the backstretch, but at the 5 1/2-furlong pole you could see jockey Julien Leparoux spark into action with a little more urgency than usual at such an early juncture in the race. He asked Enforceable to pick up the pace while zooming up the rail to attain mid-pack placement, and when clear inside passage never materialized, Leparoux swerved out to the six path for a long drive that earned him second. “He made a couple of different moves and still finished with plenty of acceleration,” trainer Mark Casse said. “That kind of experience will help him down the road.”

VIDEO PPS