It didn’t take long for owner Charlene Kennedy to recover a nice chunk of the $18,000 investment she laid down for Maple Leaf Quix, who steamrolled over her square-gaited counterparts
in the $34,600 final of the Labatt’s Claiming Series at Georgian Downs on Friday evening.
Kennedy claimed the trotter and entrusted the four-year-old daughter of Black River-Maple Leaf Legacy with trainer Marty Fine, who had to be pleased with the way she performed with the big money on the line.
Dan Clements was in no hurry with Maple Leaf Quix in Friday’s featured event at the Innisfil oval, but the same couldn’t be said for A No Vacancy. That gelding rolled to the lead and carved out sensible panels of :28 and :58 before being overtaken in the backstretch. Maple Leaf Quix angled off the rail on the way to the half and it didn’t take her long to scoot to the front.
She was parked while making the lead at the three-quarter pole in 1:27.1 and drew off to lead by four lengths turning for home. That margin widened to nine lengths by the time she crossed the finish line. She trotted the mile in a career-best clocking of 1:57 en route to defeating Maestro Springs, who was one-half of a heavily-favoured entry. Hi Tech Tony grabbed the show dough.
Maple Leaf Quix, who upped her lifetime earnings to $45,805 with the win, has put together a 2-2-1 record in 18 starts this season.
To view Friday’s results, click here.