California Chrome, Lexie Lou could meet on grass

DEL MAR, Calif. – The biggest race in the United States is the Kentucky Derby. The biggest race in Canada is the Queen’s Plate. So, if the winners of those two races met at Del Mar, that certainly would make it the biggest race this track has had in a long time.

Anticipation is already building here over the announcement earlier in the week that California Chrome is scheduled to make his grass debut in the Grade 1, $300,000 Hollywood Derby on Nov. 29. And there’s a very good chance that his rivals could include the filly Lexie Lou, who beat males in the Queen’s Plate and most recently won the Autumn Miss Stakes on turf at Santa Anita.

Lexie Lou also is eligible for the Grade 1, $300,000 Matriarch Stakes for older females Nov. 30, closing day here. But on Friday at Del Mar, her trainer, Mark Casse, said he’s leaning toward running in the Hollywood Derby.

Both races are on grass, the Hollywood Derby at 1 1/8 miles, the Matriarch at a flat mile.

“I’m leaning toward the Hollywood Derby, but ultimately, it’ll be up to Gary,” Casse said, referring to owner Gary Barber. “I always like to keep my horses in their age group if I can. I have great respect for California Chrome, but I have great respect for Lexie Lou, too. For racing, it would be a great thing.”

Lexie Lou is stabled here at Del Mar, where Casse brought the bulk of his West Coast-based horses.

“The horses are happy here, and I’m happy, more relaxed,” Casse said.

California Chrome is stabled 1 1/2 hours north of here at Los Alamitos.

Lexie Lou has won seven times in 15 starts and is 4 for 7 this year. California Chrome has won eight times in 15 starts and is 5 for 8 this year. Unlike Lexie Lou, he has never raced on turf.

Ol’ Fashion Gal eyes Durante

Casse sent out Ol’ Fashion Gal to a victory on turf against maidens Thursday. Not long after the winner’s-circle ceremonies were completed, he nominated her to the Grade 3, $150,000 Jimmy Durante Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on Nov. 29. He couldn’t afford to wait. Nominations closed Thursday night.

“It’s probably a little close back, but I nominated her just in case,” Casse said.

Casse said his most likely runner in the Durante is Conquest Harlanate, who finished 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last time out. She’s a two-time graded stakes winner at Woodbine.

Casse hopes the Force is with him

Casse’s lone starter Sunday at Del Mar is Force, a colt by Flatter who is making his debut in race 3, a six-furlong race for 2-year-olds that drew seven runners, including five making their first starts.

Force was part of a large contingent of 2-year-olds Casse brought west this year, but he shows a two-month gap in his works, from July 9 at Churchill Downs until Sept. 13 at Barretts Sales and Racing in Pomona, Calif.

“When he flew out here, he got really sick for two or three weeks,” Casse said.

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Since going back into training, Force shows a steady work pattern of eight drills, including a five-furlong move in 1:00.80 from the gate at Del Mar last Sunday.

His rivals include Steam Play, a first-timer by Stroll trained and co-owned by Bob Baffert, and Blue Law, who makes his debut for the powerful Del Mar duo of trainer Bob Hess Jr. and jockey Kent Desormeaux.