Lexie Lou, multiple stakes winner, champion and fan favourite, won’t make her scheduled return from a lengthy layoff on Wednesday night, at Woodbine, due to an eye injury.
On the sidelines since a solid second-place effort in the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes held on January 17 at Santa Anita, Lexie Lou, Canada’s Horse of the Year in 2014, had been slated to contest the evening’s opening race, a 1 1/16-mile turf event for older fillies and mares.
“She was training well leading up to it,” said trainer Mark Casse, Monday morning. “Last week, she scratched her eye, but we treated it and it got better. Now, it’s swollen shut. But, we have an expert from the University of Guelph taking care of her. I don’t think it’s anything serious. She’ll be fine.”
Casse believes last year’s winner of the Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser, and Queen’s Plate, hurt the eye in a freak accident.
“I’m guessing she just brushed against some straw and that’s how it happened,” he said. “She’ll live to fight another day. We just want to make sure that she’s okay. And, we wanted people to know what happened.”
Lexie Lou, owned by Gary Barber, and partnered by Patrick Husbands, was working towards a possible start in the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes, a Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In event, set for Sunday, September 13, at Woodbine.
She reached the winner’s circle on four of her eight three-year-old engagements, the Oaks and Plate on the Polytrack, while showing her versatility in taking the Wonder Where Stakes over the Toronto oval’s E.P. Taylor Turf Course.
After an uncharacteristic off-key performance in the 2014 edition of the Grade 2 Canadian, Lexie Lou went to California to complete her campaign, winning the Grade 3 Autumn Miss on the Santa Anita grass and finishing an impressive second to Kentucky Derby champ, highly regarded California Chrome, in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby.
Lexie Lou was named champion three-year-old filly, grass mare and Horse of the Year for her impressive 2014 campaign.
In her four-year-old debut, the bay rallied to net the runner-up spot in the Grade 2 La Canada, a 1 1/16-mile dirt stake at Santa Anita.
Casse, a six-time Sovereign Award winner as Canada’s champion conditioner, was buoyed by Lexie Lou’s recent training efforts, including a recent five-furlong breeze in 1:00.20, fastest of the day over the ‘Poly’, on August 13.
“We’ll find out more in a day or so,” he said. “Obviously, it’s disappointing for everyone. Our focus is on getting her better. She’s a wonderful horse, one you are so proud to be associated with.”
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