Casse barn ends Del Mar on hot streak

Trainer Mark Casse won the Queen’s Plate Stakes at Woodbine this year with Lexie Lou, who was second to Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar last Saturday.

Casse may have a prospect for the 2015 Queen’s Plate in Conquest Typhoon, who won his second stakes in the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille at Del Mar on Sunday.

“He’s a Canadian-bred,” Casse said. “The Queen’s Plate is something to think about. For now, he’ll stay in California.”

In addition to Lexie Lou’s runner-up finish, Casse won three stakes on the final weekend of the Del Mar meeting.

Kaigun, the winner of the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap over 1 1/16 miles on turf last Friday, will be pointed for the $200,000 Arcadia Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 31 and the $400,000 Frank Kilroe Mile on March 7.

Ol’ Fashion Gal, the winner of the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on turf last Saturday, will remain on turf for the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting that begins Dec. 26.

Turf racing is also in the future for Lexie Lou, who will not race again until Santa Anita.

“We had thought of trying her on the dirt,” Casse said. “I think she’s one of the best turf females in North America. I don’t want to take her off of it.”