Conquest Enforcer goes Wire to Wire in Mathis Brothers Mile
Conquest Enforcer made a winning debut for his new connections in the $200,000 Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile featuring three-year-olds on Santa Anita Park’s turf course. Previously owned by Conquest Stables and trained by Mark Casse, Loooch Racing purchased the Into Mischief colt for $785,000 from the Conquest Dispersal at the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and came out with a winner.
Placed in the care of trainer Philip D’Amato, Conquest Enforcer broke from post four with jockey Flavien Prat aboard. The pair grabbed the lead with Blackout, Conquest Enforcer’s old stablemate, to their outside and led the first half through fractions of :22.91 and :46.11. Defiantly and Blackjackcat took their place behind the front-running duo and were followed by Tusk and Moonlight Drive. Frank Conversation bid his time while Mittersill, Isotherm, and Path of David trailed the field.
When the field turned for home, Conquest Enforcer had plenty of gas left in the tank while Blackout failed to keep up. Three-quarters of the mile went in 1:10.29 when Mittersill, Moonlight Drive, and Isotherm came rolling late, but Conquest Enforcer was too far ahead to catch. Prat and his mount stopped the clock in 1:33.64 and hit the wire 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Mittersill.
“I can’t ask for better than that (two victories on his return from France),” said Prat. “It was a great day. This horse was very sharp. I just wanted to get him to relax. He broke so sharp, I just wanted him to relax on the lead. He didn’t relax until the backside and then he got going. Phil (D’Amato) said he has a great turn of foot and he seemed so sharp. I was a little worried in the stretch, but he kicked away.”
“I am very happy,” commented D’Amato. “He’s settled into our program really nicely and I think the sky is the limit with this horse. Prat is a great fit for him. This horse actually reminds me of Obviously and he guided Obviously to a nice Breeders’ Cup win and hopefully next year we’re doing the same with this horse.”
As the 9-5 favorite, Conquest Enforcer paid $5.60, $3.80, and $3.00. Mittersill returned $7.00 and $5.40 at 7-1 and Moonlight Drive, 10-1, delivered $5.60 to show. Isotherm, Blackjackcat, Frank Conversation, Blackout, Path of David, Defiantly, and Tusk completed the order of finish.
The Mathis Brothers Mile bumped Conquest Enforcer’s career to 8-5-0-2, giving him his fifth stakes win and first graded victory. He earned $120,000 for new owners Loooch Racing Stables, Inc., Imaginary Stables, and Raquel Ritchie while bumping his lifetime gain to $480,640.
By Christine Oser