Gary Barber's Lexie Lou (m, 5, Sligo Bay {Ire}–Oneexcessivenite, by In Excess {Ire}) celebrated the second anniversary of her Queen's Plate victory with a determined victory over Strut the Course (Strut the Stage) in the GII Dance Smartly S. at Woodbine Sunday. The front-running score continued a tour d'force weekend for trainer Mark Casse, whose World Approval (Northern Afleet) was capturing the GI United Nations S., run concurrently with the Dance Smartly. Lexie Lou, a 3-1 shot, rushed up along the hedge to take the early lead. The bay filly zipped out to a clear lead and set fractions of :22.76 and :45.30 and was six lengths in front turning for home. Strut the Course moved to challenge the pacesetter at midstretch and Lexie Lou looked to be beaten, but battled back bravely to earn a hard-fought length victory. Strut the Course had a nose on Nakuti (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) on the wire. Lexie Lou completed the about-nine furlongs in 1:44.89.
Sunday, Woodbine
DANCE SMARTLY S.-GII, C$233,200, WO, 7-3, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8mT, 1:44.89, fm.
1–LEXIE LOU, 122, m, 5, by Sligo Bay (Ire)
1st Dam: Oneexcessivenite, by In Excess (Ire)
2nd Dam: Favored One, by Son of Briartic
3rd Dam: Highly Favored, by Favorecidian
(C$5,500 Ylg '12 CANSEP). O-Gary Barber; B-Paradox Farm
(ON); T-Mark E. Casse; J-Patrick Husbands. C$144,000. Lifetime
Record: Horse of the Year, Ch. 3yo Filly, Ch. Grass Mare-Can,
GISP, 23-9-4-4, $1,706,005. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”ontario-bred-sold”]2–Strut the Course, 122, m, 6, Strut the Stage–Bold Course, by
Trajectory. O-John Unger; B-John Unger (ON); T-Barbara J.
Minshall. C$48,000.[bullet ad=”webb-carroll-another-wctc-grad”][bullet ad=”ontario-bred”]3–Nakuti (Ire), 120, m, 5, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Sheba Five, by
Five Star Day. (€30,000 Wlg '11 GOFNOV; 22,000gns RNA Ylg
'12 TAOCT). O-Andrew Stone; B-Eamonn McEvoy (IRE); T-H.
Graham Motion. C$20,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, NO, NK. Odds: 3.30, 2.25, 13.65.
Also Ran: Heath, Uchenna (Ire), Ball Dancing, Industrial Policy, Goodyearforroses (Ire), The Tea Cups, Secret Action, Season Ticket. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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