Lexie Lou Named Canada's 2014 Horse of Year
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Gary Barber's Lexie Lou was named Canada's 2014 Horse of the Year the evening of April 10 during Sovereign Award presentations at Woodbine near Toronto.
The daughter of Sligo Bay posted a 4-1-1 record from eight starts last year while racing in both Canada, where she won the prestigious Queen's Plate against males at Woodbine, and the United States, where she finished a commendable second to dual classic winner and eventual U.S. Horse of the Year California Chrome in the Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) at Del Mar in November.
"I was proud of her, because I thought she represented Canada," said trainer Mark Casse, who landed his fourth straight Sovereign Award for outstanding trainer and seventh overall.
Lexie Lou also captured two other Canadian classics: the Woodbine Oaks and Wonder Where Stakes, both for fillies at Woodbine. Bookending the Hollywood Derby, she captured Autumn Miss Stakes (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Park in her U.S. debut and closed the season there with a second in the La Canada Stakes (gr. IIT), taking her 2014 earnings to more than $1.1 million.
Bred in Ontario by Paradox Farms from the In Excess mare Oneexcessivenite, Lexie Lou also was named champion 3-year-old filly and champion turf female.
Awards night was a big evening for Casse, who trained four other divisional honorees: Conquest Typhoon, champion 2-year-old male; Conquest Harlanate, champion 2-year-old filly; Dynamic Sky, champion turf male; and Hillaby, champion female sprinter.
2014 Sovereign Award winners:
Horse of the Year: Lexie Lou (Sligo Bay—Oneexcessivenite, In Excess)
Champion turf male: Dynamic Sky (Sky Mesa —Murani, by Distorted Humor)
Champion turf female: Lexie Lou
Champion male sprinter: Calgary Cat (Cowtown Cat —Big Sink Star, by A.P. Indy)
Champion female sprinter: Hillaby (Distorted Humor —Sealy Hill, by Point Given)
Champion older male: Lukes Alley (Flower Alley—Vaulcluse, by A.P. Indy)
Champion older female: Strut the Course (Strut the Stage—Bold Course, by Trajectory)
Champion 3-year-old male: Heart to Heart (English Channel —Ask the Question, by Silver Deputy)
Champion 3-year-old filly: Lexie Lou
Champion 2-year-old male: Conquest Typhoon (Stormy Atlantic —Swanky Bubbles, Ascot Knight)
Champion 2-year-old filly: Conquest Harlanate (Harlan's Holiday—llison's Pride, by Dixieland Band)
Outstanding broodmare: Eye of the Sphynx (Smart Strike—Queen of Egypt, by Vice Regent)
Outstanding breeder: Sam-Son Farm
Outstanding owner: John C. Oxley
Outstanding trainer: Mark Casse
Outstanding jockey: Patrick Husbands
Outstanding apprentice: Sheena Ryan
Outstanding photograph: Cindy Pierson Dulay
Outstanding writing: David Briggs
Outstanding digital audio/visual & broadcast: Scott Jagow