Canadian’ Queen Looks to Keep Her Crown

Gary Barber’s Lexie Lou (Sligo Bay {Ire}) stamped herself as one of the top sophomores of the North this summer with three consecutive black-type wins, and she looks to keep that hot streak going in today’s GII Canadian S. at Woodbine. The 1 1/8-mile turf test is a “Win and You’re In” event granting the victor an all expense paid trip to the 
GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Previously trained by John Ross, the bay was a close third behind stablemate Wild Catomine (Milwaukee Brew) in her debut for Mark Casse in the Fury S. over the polytrack May 10. Unstoppable once Casse removed the blinkers, she scored a decisive win in the Woodbine Oaks June 15 and trumped the boys in the Queen’s Plate–the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown–July 6 going 1 1/4 miles over the main track here. Lexie Lou earned her best Beyer Speed Figure of 93 last time out on this turf course when winning the 1 1/4-mile Wonder Where S. Aug. 10. Casse also sends out Industrial Policy (Harlan’s Holiday), also owned by Barber in partnership with Robert Masterson, who was a head second in a local allowance last time Aug. 1. 

Jim and Susan Hill’s Solid Appeal (Successful Appeal) seeks redemption in this test after finishing eighth in last year’s renewal. The Reade Baker pupil captured the one-mile GII Nassau S. over this course May 25 and was fifth when last seen at Saratoga in the GI Diana S. July 19. 

Sam-Son Farm homebred Deceptive Vision (A.P. Indy) completed the exacta in the Nassau and missed by just a nose in the course and distance GII Dance Smartly last time July 6. The lightly raced Malcolm Pierce pupil boasts three wins in just six starts and has never been out of the money. 

Salvador Hernandez’s Illinois-bred La Tia (City Place) looks to atone for a fourth place finish in last year’s renewal of this event. The Armando De la cerda trainee wired the field to score a 6 1/4-length victory in the GIII Ontario Matron over the local synthetic July 26; and faded to fourth after setting the pace last time in the GI Beverly D. S. back at her home track Aug. 16.