Woodbine: Rivals On Rainbow Bridge, Lexie Lou meet again in Victorian Queen

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – On Rainbow Bridge and the improving Lexie Lou will renew their rivalry Saturday at Woodbine in the $125,000 Victorian Queen, a six-furlong stakes for Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies.

Lexie Lou finished well behind On Rainbow Bridge in the latter’s two stakes triumphs, in the 5 1/2-furlong Shady Well and the six-furlong Nandi.

Most recently in the 6 1/2-furlong Muskoka, they linked up on the lead early in the stretch, before On Rainbow Bridge drifted out from left-handed whipping into the path of Lexie Lou, who lost by a nose. After a long inquiry, On Rainbow Bridge was disqualified and placed second for interference in the $200,000 yearling sales stakes. Her connections appealed the decision to the Ontario Racing Commission, which will have a hearing on the matter Oct. 17.

“She came out of those races great,” said Dave Cotey, who trains On Rainbow Bridge for Triple K Stables. “She’s had a month between [this one and the last one]. She’ll run a decent race. She’s in pretty good order.”

Owner-trainer John Ross was tickled with Lexie Lou’s performance in the Muskoka, in which she earned a 71 Beyer Speed Figure in her second start with blinkers.

“I thought it was her best race ever,” Ross recalled. “We added the blinkers and took her right back off the pace. She doesn’t like to be hustled. It took us a couple races to figure that out.”

Ross supplemented Lexie Lou at a cost of $2,500. He said he forgot to nominate her to the Victorian Queen because he was fixated on whether to run her in the Grade 2 Natalma Stakes on the grass Sept. 14.

“I really entertained the [Natalma], because she’s bred for turf and had worked so good over it,” Ross explained. “After looking at the [nominees], I thought the smart thing to do was save her for the Victorian Queen.”

Regal Conqueror looks like a promising type. She wired maiden special stock going six furlongs with the aid of a speed bias in her easy debut score Sept. 7, when she earned a 71 Beyer. She was the first winner for her sire, Canadian turf champion Sky Conqueror, and her dam captured the Grade 2 Canadian on the grass.

Lia’s Miracle, who notched her opener July 13, has been idle since ending up third in the Aug. 3 Nandi. She is trained by Steve Asmussen for owner-breeder Zayat Stables.

Completing the field are Bear’s Pride, Seeking a Glitter, and Sandys Hurricane.