Lexie Lou, who lost a stretch-long battle by a nose to favoured On Rainbow Bridge, was awarded victory in the $200,000 Muskoka Stakes for two-year-old fillies, Wednesday night at Woodbine Racetrack.
The stewards ruled that On Rainbow Bridge and jockey Skye Chernetz had bumped Lexie Lou and Gary Boulanger several times while slightly drifting, resulting in the disqualification.
Making It Happen cut out the first quarter in 22.70 before being challenged by On Rainbow Bridge as they reached the half in 46.04. But the favourite was joined by longshot Lexie Lou as the pair turned into the stretch and battled bridle-to-bridle the length of the lane, completing the distance in 1:16.87. Paladin Bay was two lengths further back in third.
Owned and trained by John Ross, who races under the J.R. Racing Stable moniker, Lexie Lou, just a $5,500 yearling purchase, earned $120,000 for the win, her second victory in four starts. The daughter of Sligo Bay-Oneexcessivenite won her debut, then finished a distant eighth to On Rainbow Bridge in the Shady Well on July 14.
However, with blinkers added, she performed a lot better in the Nandi Stakes, August 3, finishing a much closer fourth, just four and one-quarter lengths behind that same rival.
Bred by Paradox Farm, Lexie Lou, disregarded at 17-1, paid $36.20, $12.50 and $7.20, combining with On Rainbow Bridge ($3, $2.40) for a $95.60 (4-5) exactor. A 4-5-1 (Paladin Bay, $3.70) triactor was worth $359.30, while a $1 Superfecta [4-5-1-2 (Two Brews to Go)] came back a whopping $1,757.20.
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