J.R. Racing Stable's Lexie Lou looks to continue her recent success Dec. 14 in the $150,000 Ontario Lassie Stakes at Woodbine, coming into the 1 1/16-mile event for Ontario-bred juvenile fillies off a three-length victory in the South Ocean Stakes.
Trained by John Ross to a 3-2-0 record from seven starts for earnings of $294,656 thus far, the daughter of Sligo Bay has been competitive in her past four starts. She took the the Aug. 28 Muskoka Stakes by disqualification after finishing second by a nose, and ran second in the Sept. 28 Victorian Queen and the Nov. 2 Princess Elizabeth. She is co-highweight at 123 pounds and will be ridden from the rail by Gary Boulanger.
Jessie Ladouceur's Paladin Bay, who also carries 123, won the Princess Elizabeth over Lexie Lou with a four-wide driving run, but couldn't get up in the South Ocean Nov. 24 and had to settle for second. Another by Sligo Bay, she leaves post 3 under Gerry Olguin for trainer Harold Ladouceur with a 2-3-2 record from eight outings and earnings of $276,865.
My Bid, Fieldstone Farms' homebred Smooth Bid filly, broke her maiden at second asking for trainer Carlos Grant by 4 3/4 geared-down lengths going 1 1/16 miles last time out Nov. 29, and steps into stakes company for the first time. Juan Crawford rides as part of a 118-pound assignment from post 4.
Completing the field are Mario Maver and Mario Morataya's maiden winner La Nena Del Valle, Windhaven Farms' maiden winner Henry's Island, and Nick Nosowenko's allowance winner Splashy Gizmo.
$150,000 Ontario Lassie Stakes (Race 4, approximate post 2:26 p.m. EST), 2YO fillies, Ontario-bred, 1 1/16 miles (all weather track)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Lexie Lou (ON), G. Boulanger, 123, J A Ross
2. La Nena Del Valle (ON), T. Wong, 116, M Mayer
3. Paladin Bay (ON), G. Olguin, 123, H Ladouceur
4. My Bid (ON), J. Crawford, 118, C Grant
5. Henry's Island (ON), E. Wilson, 116, M J Doyle
6. Splashy Gizmo (ON), P. Husbands, 116, N Nosowenko