Lexie Lou 'Thriving' at Del Mar

 

And by entering his 3-year-old filly Lexie Lou in both of the weekend’s $300,000 Grade I stakes -- Saturday’s Hollywood Derby and Sunday’s Matriarch – trainer Mark Casse gave himself an option to avoid a ‘Chrome confrontation.

 

But Casse has never wavered from the notion of sending the Canadian-bred daughter of Sligo Bay against whatever males might enter the 1 1/8 mile turf test of the Hollywood Derby. Not before, and not after California Chrome was committed to the race.

 

He figures the filly that was quickly and somewhat surprisingly acquired seven months ago has earned and deserves the chance.

 

“I ran (horses) against her a few times and, in fact, beat her as a 2-year-old,” Casse said.

 

Then, after a race in April, Gary Barber, one of Casse’s major clients, looked at Lexie Lou’s pedigree, envisioned success on the turf and authorized Casse to see about arranging a private purchase.

 

Casse called Lexie Lou’s connections, got a price, relayed it to Barber and got the OK to purchase. “In terms of the deal, it all happened within 15 minutes, and it was Gary’s idea,” Casse said.

 

Initially, a filly purchased with turf racing in mind thrived on the Polytrack at the Woodbine track near Toronto. She won the Woodbine Oaks in June and then the Queen’s Plate, first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, in June. The latter was the first win in the prestigious race for Casse, a six-time winner of the Sovereign Award as the country’s top trainer.

 

“We did a couple little tweaks, like taking the blinkers off, which seemed to make her settle a little bit,” Casse said. “She can get a little bit fired up.

 

“The other thing was, we found that by doing less with her makes her better. We changed her training schedule a little and the rest is history.”

 

Lexie Lou won her first start on the grass in August but was a disappointing last of 10 in the Canadian Stakes at the Toronto track as the 8-5 favorite in September. She bounced back with a victory in the Autumn Miss at Santa Anita on October 25.

 

When Del Mar’s track opened for training for the Bing Crosby Season, Lexie Lou was part of Casse’s early contingent and has had two  works over the Polytrack main surface.

 

“She’s thriving here,” said Randi Melton, Casse’s assistant. “She had one fluke of a race (Canadian) which we’ve written off because she came back in great form. She looks great and we’re very confident she’ll run her race (in the Hollywood Derby). If she’s good enough, we’ll find out. It’s up to her.”

 

Not possessing exceptional size, Lexie Lou makes up for it with intangibles.

 

“When you first see her she doesn’t wow you,” Melton said. “But when you look at her body, her mechanics are extraordinary. Then when you watch her train, she walks on the track like she owns it. It’s her demeanor, her heart and her mentality, the three things you need in a racehorse.”

 

Source: Hank Wesch/Del Mar Barn Notes