Lexie Lou Potential Foe for California Chrome
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Queen's Plate winner Lexie Lou and recent Twilight Derby (gr. IIT) winner Long On Value head a list of 22 sophomores nominated along with California Chrome for the $300,000 Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) Nov. 29 at Del Mar.
The potential blockbuster race could feature a rare occurrence with the filly Lexie Lou, who defeated males in Canada's most famous race, the Queen's Plate, taking on the winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) going 1 1/8 miles on turf. The match-up became a distinct possibility once nominations for the remaining stakes races during the inaugural "Bing Crosby Season" at Del Mar closed at midnight Nov. 20.
Trainer Mark Casse told the Del Mar publicity office that the possibility of clashing with California Chrome wouldn't change his plans, though he also nominated Lexie Lou to the $300,000 Matriarch (gr. IT) on closing day Nov. 30 at one mile against older fillies and mares.
"I don't think it will stop me, it won't change my mind," said Casse of the potential match-up with a dual classic winner. "I got to tell you I think our filly is pretty tough. She hasn't beaten California Chrome, but she has beaten the boys before. Actually, I think it's kind of intriguing."
The race is kind of an experiment for trainer Art Sherman, who would be putting California Chrome on the turf for the first time if the California-bred son of Lucky Pulpit runs in that race. He was also nominated for the Native Diver Handicap (gr. III) on the Polytrack the same day.
"Just the way he moves makes me think he could be a good grass horse," Sherman said recently. "I've wanted to try him on turf, this is an opportune time. If he can run on grass it will give me a lot of options with him next year as a 4-year-old."
The race's grade I status and California Chrome's current state of readiness following a third-place finish to Bayern in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) Nov. 1 when beaten only a neck, were factors in Sherman's decision to bring the colt to Del Mar. He said the Hollywood Derby is the first option.
Sherman plans to ship California Chrome from his Los Alamitos stable Nov. 23 for a workout over the Del Mar sod, then make a decision on which race to run in.
Casse has no such issues with Lexie Lou, who has won twice in three tries since switching to the grass this summer. Her victories came in the Wonder Where Stakes, the final jewel of Canada's filly Triple Tiara at Woodbine, and the Autumn Miss Stakes (gr. IIIT) at one mile Oct. 25 at Santa Anita Park.
"One thing we know is, our horse will run on the grass," Casse said. "This is my 34th year (training). I've breezed a lot of horses over the grass and I've done a lot of things. I've had horses that worked good on the grass that I thought would run lights out and they didn't run a lick. I've had ones that didn't look very good in works that ran great in the race. You never know until you try."
Lexie Lou would carry 119 pounds, three fewer than her male counterparts, in the Hollywood Derby.
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott nominated Long On Value. He won the nine-furlong Twilight Derby under Rosie Napravnik against 3-year-olds Oct. 31 on the Breeders' Cup opening day undercard at Santa Anita. He defeated Sawyer's Hill, also nominated to the Hollywood Derby, by a neck.
Sawyer's Hill, from the Kristin Mulhall barn, also ran second in the Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT) Aug. 31.
Other leading nominees are grade III winner Home Run Kitten, undefeated four-time stakes winner Red Outlaw, and Tamarando, who defeated California Chrome on Del Mar's Polytrack in the 2013 Del Mar Futurity (gr. I).
Should California Chrome go in the Native Diver, there are 19 other nominees. Among them is Big Cazanova, who set a Del Mar Polytrack record for 1 1/8 miles, the Native Diver distance, going 1:48.85 in an allowance/optional event Aug. 28.
Owned and bred by Perry Martin and Steve Coburn, California Chrome is a winner of eight of 15 starts, including the Santa Anita Derby and Preakness (both gr. I) and over $4 million. He ran twice on Polytrack at Del Mar as a 2-year-old in 2013, winning the Graduation Stakes for California-breds, then was sixth in the Del Mar Futurity.