Lexie Lou nearing return

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The 2014 Canadian Horse of the Year and Queen’s Plate winner Lexie Lou is nearing a return to racing at Woodbine, trainer Mark Casse said.

Lexie Lou, who also took home champion 3-year old filly and champion turf female honors at the Sovereign Awards in April, has not raced since finishing second in the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan 17. Casse said Lexie Lou needed some time off after a busy 2014 campaign that comprised eight starts, plus the La Canada in the early stages of 2015.

“She had a few little minor injuries, nothing really of any consequence,” he said. “She had gone hard and strong as a 2-year old and then as a 3-year-old, and at some point in time we just thought maybe giving her some time off would help get her over some little things.”

Casse said there was an outside chance that Lexie Lou could return this weekend in the $125,000 Victoriana Stakes for Ontario-sired fillies and mares over 1 1/16 miles on the turf, but said it was more likely she would run on Canadian Millions Sales Stakes Day on Sept. 2. Casse said he didn’t have a specific race in mind, but that Lexie Lou could run in the $125,000 Algoma Stakes for fillies and mares over 1 1/16 miles on Polytrack or face males on the turf in the $125,000 Halton Stakes.

Lexie Lou resumed works on July 7 at Winding Oaks Farm in Florida and recorded her first Woodbine breeze on July 22, when she covered five furlongs in 1:00.40 on the main track. Casse said Lexie Lou appears to have benefited from the time off.

“David Adams, our assistant who’s been with her, couldn’t believe how good she looked,” Casse said. “She’s grown up. She loves what she does. To watch her train is just a sight to behold.”

Brooklynsway to Wonder Where

Bison City Stakes winner Brooklynsway will proceed to the third and final leg of the Canadian triple tiara series, the $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes over 1 1/4 miles on turf on Aug. 9, trainer John Ross said.

Brooklynsway bounced back off of an even sixth-place finish in the Woodbine Oaks on June 14 to win the July 12 Bison City by a nose over Galina Point. The way Brooklynsway galloped out in front after crossing the wire in the 1 1/16-mile Bison City leads him to believe that 1 1/4 miles won’t be an issue.

Brooklynsway had been dealing with a mouth abscess heading into the Fury Stakes on May 3 and Ross said a few additional issues heading into the Woodbine Oaks had Brooklynsway at less than 100 percent.

“She looks like she’s back to herself right now, and the way she worked on the turf the other day I was very happy with,” he said. “She’s in good order and feeling great, and she’s come out of the Bison City fantastic. We’re going to go to the Wonder Where, no doubt about it.”

Pender Harbour ready to run

Pender Harbour ran well to be third in the Grade 3 Dominion Day Handicap on July 1 after a troubled stretch run, and is on track for a start Sunday or Monday, trainer Michael De Paulo said.

De Paulo said Pender Harbour will run in the Grade 3 Seagram Cup over 1 1/16 miles on Sunday or in the 6 1/2-furlong Shepperton Stakes for Ontario-sired 3-year olds and up on Monday.

De Paulo said Pender Harbour has been training well since the Dominion Day.

“He’s been going easy,” he said.

De Paulo added he was pleased with the 7-year old gelding’s effort in the Dominion Day despite an incident in the stretch where jockey Luis Contreras had to pull up slightly when the eventual winner, Red Rifle, came over on Pender Harbour briefly.