Casse sending four to Queen's Plate

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Following Sunday’s key preps at Woodbine, trainer Mark Casse said he plans on running Lexie Lou, Majestic Sunset, Matador, and recent maiden winner East Side in the $1 million Queen’s Plate here July 6.

Lexie Lou’s smashing victory in the $500,400 Woodbine Oaks paid significant dividends to owner Gary Barber, who bought her privately from owner-trainer John Ross earlier this spring. At the behest of jockey Patrick Husbands, Casse took the blinkers off Lexie Lou after her close third in the May 10 Fury Stakes, and she won the nine-furlong Oaks by 4 1/2 lengths with a pace-pressing trip over stablemate Wild Catomine, who set quick fractions.

Casse said Lexie Lou had benefited from Ross’s training before the filly came to him.

“John did a tremendous job with her,” he said. “I would give 95 percent of the credit to John and 5 percent to our team. We were just lucky to have somebody who stepped up and bought her.”

Majestic Sunset and Matador are owned by two-time Sovereign Award-winning owner John Oxley. The maiden Majestic Sunset finished second to the heavily favored We Miss Artie in the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes. Majestic Sunset set soft fractions over a track that was kind to speed.

“I told Mr. Oxley that we employed a new strategy,” Casse said. “I figured he’s always getting in trouble, and on the lead, there’s no trouble.”

Casse said Majestic Sunset’s new style complements the late-running Matador, who won a 1 1/16-mile allowance by six lengths with an 85 Beyer Speed Figure here May 28.

“We’re really excited about Matador,” Casse said. “He’s been training really well. I thought his last race was big.”

Casse said the Oxley-owned Wild Catomine will be pointed for the second leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, the $250,000 Bison City Stakes at 1 1/16 miles here July 13.

“I was very proud of Wild Catomine,” Casse said. “I thought she hung in there well. She set an honest pace and didn’t give it up.”