Lexie Lou Continues Adentures in La Cañada
Description:
Second to Horse of the Year hopeful California Chrome in the Nov. 29 Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) at Del Mar, Queen's Plate winner Lexie Lou heads a field of eight 4-year-old fillies set for the $200,000 La Cañada Stakes Jan. 17 at Santa Anita Park.
Mark Casse's highly accomplished runner, an Ontario-bred daughter of Sligo Bay who races for Gary Barber, will try natural dirt for the first time in the 1 1/16-mile La Cañada.
A winner of four of eight starts last year, including the Queen's Plate at Woodbine versus Canadian-bred males and the Autumn Miss Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Santa Anita, Lexie Lou has stamped herself as an indefatigable competitor under varied conditions and thus looms the horse to beat. She has won sprinting and routing and has an overall record of 7-3-2 from 16 starts, with earnings of $1,429,714.
Corey Nakatani rides from post 3 as part of a 118-pound impost.
Sam's Sister, an upset winner of the Dec. 26 La Brea Stakes (gr. I) at seven furlongs, will do her best to turn back Lexie Lou while making her first try going two turns. Owned by Mark Dedomenico, George Todaro, and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, Sam's Sister has four wins from five starts and provided her sire, 2006 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Brother Derek, with his first grade I winner in the opening day La Brea.
Sam's Sister is one of three Hollendorfer-trained fillies signed-on to run Saturday and will be ridden again by regular pilot Elvis Trujillo from the 2 hole while also carrying 118 pounds. Hollendorfer has Fleet of Gold from the rail and Thegirlinthatsong from post 5 as well.
Zayat Stables' Jojo Warrior, who was well beaten at odds of 7-2 in the La Brea, will attempt to rebound on the stretch-out for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. A Kentucky-bred filly by Pioneerof the Nile , she was a winner of the Summertime Oaks (gr. II) and Torrey Pines Stakes (gr. III) and was a close third in the Cotillion Stakes (gr. I) won by Untapable last year. She carries highweight of 120 pounds under Martin Garcia from post 5.
Une Cherise, Ramona's Wildcat, and Colonel Joan complete the field.
La Canada S. (gr. II)
Santa Anita Park , Saturday, January 17, 2015, Race 8
- 1 1/16m
- Dirt
- $200,000
- 4 yo Fillies
- 4:00 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Weight | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fleet of Gold (KY) | Alex O. Solis | 118 | Jerry Hollendorfer |
| 2 | Sam's Sister (KY) | Elvis Trujillo | 118 | Jerry Hollendorfer |
| 3 | Lexie Lou (ON) | Corey S. Nakatani | 118 | Mark E. Casse |
| 4 | Thegirlinthatsong (TX) | Rafael Bejarano | 118 | Jerry Hollendorfer |
| 5 | Jojo Warrior (KY) | Martin Garcia | 120 | Bob Baffert |
| 6 | Une Cherise (KY) | Joseph Talamo | 118 | H. Graham Motion |
| 7 | Ramona's Wildcat (LA) | Kent J. Desormeaux | 118 | Doug F. O'Neill |
| 8 | Colonel Joan (KY) | Gary L. Stevens | 118 | Eoin G. Harty |