Woodbine notes: Lexie Lou gains redemption in front-running South Ocean win

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Paladin Bay swept by the front-running Lexie Lou to take the $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes Nov. 2, but the tables were turned last Sunday, when Lexie Lou led throughout the $125,000 South Ocean Stakes, leaving favored Paladin Bay back in second.

Owner and trainer John Ross said it wasn’t necessarily the plan to put Lexie Lou back on the lead in the 1 1/16-mile South Ocean. However, he felt that jockey Gary Boulanger did the right thing by positioning himself up front early when nobody else went. Boulanger said he employed slightly different tactics on Sunday than in the Princess Elizabeth by opening up on his opponents 3 1/2 furlongs from home.

“I made them come and get me,” he said. “Obviously, it was the right thing to do.”

Ross said Lexie Lou could run back Dec. 14 in the $150,000 Ontario Lassie Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for Ontario-breds, in which she could meet Paladin Bay again. Both are by hot Ontario sire Sligo Bay, who stands at Adena Springs Canada, north of Toronto.

Casse makes plans

Zensational Bunny turned heads when she won her Sept. 27 debut with an 81 Beyer Speed Figure, and the 2-year-old daughter of Zensational caught the eye of Gary Barber, who promptly bought her and turned her over to trainer Mark Casse.

Zensational Bunny returned immediate dividends for Barber when she romped last Saturday in the $128,000 Glorious Song Stakes after setting soft fractions under Patrick Husbands in the seven-furlong sprint.

Casse said Zensational Bunny is off to Florida for the winter.

“She’s headed for Ocala for a week or so, and then will go down to Palm Meadows,” said Casse. “We’re going to see how she trains on the dirt. We might run her in the Old Hat Stakes at Gulfstream.”

Zensational Bunny, who was co-bred by Bob Baffert, was trained initially by Pat Parente.

“I don’t know if any other trainers can say they train a stakes winner bred by Bob Baffert,” Casse joked.

Casse said he plans on running Dene Court here Sunday in the Grade 2 Bessarabian Stakes, and is aiming Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes winner Madly Truly to the Grade 2 Golden Rod at Churchill Nov. 30.

Dixie Strike and Sky High Lady, second and third in the Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes Nov. 2, have both left Woodbine.

Casse said Dixie Strike probably will be campaigned at Oaklawn this winter, while Sky High Lady is getting a vacation.

“We always thought Dixie Strike is a little better on the dirt,” said Casse, who sent her out to capture the 2012 Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie.

Da Silva to ride at Penn National

Jockey Eurico Rosa Da Silva is scheduled to be at Penn National on Wednesday night to ride Nikkis Smartypants in the $150,000 Lady in Waiting Stakes. Nikkis Smartypants was recently sold by Ben Hutzel to SF Racing, and she is now trained by Brian Lynch. Her previous conditioner, Bob Tiller, saddled her to victory in the Grade 3 Royal North Stakes here in July.

Bray scheduled for first mount

Apprentice Jenna Bray, who has been working as an exercise rider for trainer Carolyn Costigan, has her first mount on Wednesday. She rides the Costigan-trained Silent Spy in Wednesday’s third race. Silent Spy is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the $25,000 route for Ontario-sired maidens.

Aragvi tries to prove himself

The Jackpot Hi 5 carryover heading into Wednesday’s eighth race is $49,097. Aragvi would make his presence known in the seven-furlong allowance for Ontario-sired runners on a repeat of his last, much-improved run.

Aragvi was toiling in the lower conditioned ranks until he crushed $10,000 nonwinners-of-two claimers with a 74 Beyer Speed Figure on Nov. 3. The step up to restricted nonwinners-of-three competition seems within his reach on Wednesday, when Patrick Husbands will ride him again for trainer Sid Attard.

◗ Trainer Dave Cotey has sold Riding the River, last year’s Canadian champion turf male. The 6-year-old gelding is headed to Florida to Randy Bradshaw, and then to California, according to Cotey.