Daughter of Sportswriter strikes in series

TORONTO, March 6 – Maplelea scored an impressive victory Friday night at Woodbine Racetrack in the first leg of the harness racing Horseplayer Interactive series.

Just one $17,000 division featuring seven horses was needed for the first leg of the three-week series for Ontario sired three-year-old pacing fillies.

Maplelea and driver Rick Zeron sent a strong message to their six rivals with a five-length victory in 1:56.

Sent off as the heavy 2/5 favourite, Maplelea got away fifth in the early stages and Zeron would wait until just past the midway point to bring the public's choice to the outside.

Around the final turn, Maplelea made a powerful charge first up and took over command from Wake N Bake heading into the stretch. Maplelea immediately created separation from her rivals in the lane and would pace home in :28 to take the first leg of the Horseplayer Interactive.

Wake N Bake held on to finish second, while third went to War Filly.

A daughter of Sportswriter, Maplelea was coming off a second-place finish in the Miss Vera Bars series final last week. She is owned and trained by Andrew Moore and now has three wins from five starts in 2015.

Friday's victory pushes Maplelea's career earnings over $39,000.

She returned $2.80 to win.

In order to be eligible to the Horseplayer Interactive, the Ontario sired sophomore pacing fillies had to be non-winners of $50,000 lifetime as of October 31, 2014.

The second leg of the Horseplayer Interactive is scheduled to take place next Friday (March 13).

Mark McKelvie