Enforceable 'More Than Likely' to Target Risen Star

Enforceable and Finite, the respective winners of the Lecomte Stakes (G3) and Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, were reported to be in good order Jan. 19, the morning after their races. Both 3-year-olds are expected to point toward another Fair Grounds spot Feb. 15, with Enforceable likely for the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford-Lincoln (G2) and Finite the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2).

John Oxley's Enforceable, stabled with Mark Casse's Fair Grounds string and assistant David Carroll, rallied from 11th to earn his first stakes win in the Lecomte.

"He came out of the race great, a little bit tired, as you would expect," Carroll said. "He cleaned up his feed, jogged sound this morning. Very proud of his effort. He trained beautifully going in, so we were expecting a big race, and then to win it was a bonus. Mark and Mr. Oxley will talk about it, but all things being equal, the Risen Star will more than likely be his next target."

The Risen Star would stretch Enforceable out to 1 1/8 miles for the first time since breaking his maiden at Saratoga Race Course. Going 1 1/16 miles, he was third in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) and fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2).

"I feel he'll relish an increase in distance. He's got a beautiful, efficient stride, and he really reaches out," Carroll said. "He ran deceptively well in the Jockey Club. There wasn't a whole lot of pace in the race over a sloppy track, and he kind of got checked turning for home and yet he was still closing. Yesterday was a truly run race. It set up beautifully for him. He had to come wide, and he still had to finish and nobody passed him on the gallop out."

Trainer Brad Cox said the Risen Star is an option for Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, and Doheny Racing Stable's Mr. Monomoy after placing third in the Lecomte. 

"He came back fantastic. I thought he had a good, ground-saving trip," Cox said of the half brother to champion Monomoy Girl. "He took some dirt and passed horses in the Keeneland race (his debut where he finished fourth), so we were confident he would do it again. He got held up a little bit, lost some momentum, and the winner got the jump on us. He galloped out with (Enforceable), so that was encouraging. Overall, it was a positive effort, and his speed figures keep improving, which I like to see. He's going to need to keep getting better, which I think he can."

Scott Blasi, assistant to Steve Asmussen, said Winchell Thoroughbreds, Thomas Reiman, William Dickson, and Debbie Easter's Finite is likely to come back in the Rachel Alexandra. Cox saddled LNJ Foxwoods' Portrait to a fourth-place finish in the Silverbulletday and indicated both Portrait and British Idiom, last seen winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), will also point to the Rachel Alexandra. British Idiom is owned by Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Madaket Stables, and Bethlehem Stables.

Michael Stidham said Mt. Brilliant Stable and Orrin Ingram's Ursula, who set the pace in the Silverbulletday and was second, beaten a neck, by Finite, could head to the Rachel Alexandra if she continues to do well. Dallas Stewart also said he is looking forward to the Rachel Alexandra with Mark and Nancy Stanley's Tempers Rising, who was third, a head back from Ursula, in the Silverbulletday.