Howaboutrightnow gets job done

Howaboutrightnow dug in bravely in deep stretch to prevail over Silver Highlight in the $187,300 Maple Leaf Stakes at Woodbine on Saturday.

Howaboutrightnow set moderate fractions under Emma-Jayne Wilson in the 1 1/4-mile race, with Foamy Water pressing her. Silver Highlight circled wide into contention on the far turn and put her head in front inside the sixteenth pole, but Howaboutrightnow came back on and won by a nose in a time of 2:07.66.

"She was pretty aggressive the whole way around," said Wilson. "She battled back real hard down the lane, and was all heart the last sixteenth of a mile. She galloped out about three jumps, and just stopped - she was so tired."

Howaboutrightnow ($11.50) earned $105,000 in her first stakes score for owner Norman Casse, who is the father of trainer Mark Casse.

Ballroom Deputy, last year's Maple Leaf winner, finished third in the seven-horse field of fillies and mares. Soul Search, the 4-5 favorite from Kentucky, was a nonthreatening fourth.