Lexie Lou regains good form in Nassau

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Lexie Lou, the 2014 Canadian Horse of the Year, ended a drought by capturing the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes as a 12-1 outsider at Woodbine on Sunday.

With Patrick Husbands aboard, Lexie Lou stalked a lively pace on the outside in the one-mile turf route. Mississippi Delta overhauled pacemaker Moon Rainbow from second early in the stretch, and seemed headed for victory at the eighth pole before Lexie Lou came on late to score by three-quarters of a length.

The final time over firm ground was a quick 1:32.98.

Lexie Lou, a 5-year-old daughter of Sligo Bay, had not won a race since taking the Grade 3 Autumn Miss at Santa Anita on Oct. 25, 2014.

Strut the Course closed from sixth to catch Moon Rainbow for third, and the favored New York shipper Stormy Victoria checked in fifth in the nine-horse field. Academic was scratched.

Lexie Lou ($26.50) banked $144,000 of the $230,800 purse for owner Gary Barber.

“She’s a funny filly,” said Husbands. “You’ve got to play with her mind. You’ve got to let her do what she wants to do. Last time when I rode her, nobody wanted the lead, and she took the lead and quit. She’s happy to be back home. She’s a nice filly. She’s a little champion.”

Trainer Mark Casse sent out the top two finishers, and also won an allowance on the card with Leavem in Malibu, who is owned in part by Barber.