Na Naa Said So employed a first-over move before half and eventually hauled down her front-end foes on Sunday (Aug. 25) at Red Shores’ Summerside Raceway. In doing so, the daughter of Westwardho Hanover earned the lion’s share of the afternoon’s largest purse, which was on the line in the $21,000 gold division of the Lady Slipper Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies.
Na Naa Said So’s win came during the last race of the program (Race 10). The card was comprised entirely of stakes tilt for juvenile pacers. The Lady Slipper also saw $7,000 grassroots divisions contested in Race 1, 3, 5 and 7. The Joe O’Brien Memorial Stakes for freshman pacers was comprised of four splits throughout the afternoon; as $7,000 grassroots divisions went postward for Race 2, 4 and 9 and $11,000 gold tilts faced the gate for Race 6 and 8.
In the lone Lady Slipper gold, Woodmere Skyroller was the first to the front for driver Gilles Barrieau, who kept his charge rolling through the :29.2 opening quarter and :59 half. Na Naa Said So, who was sent off at odds of 13-1, was launched to the outside prior to the half by driver Adam Merner.
Na Naa Said So and Woodmere Skyroller battled to the three-quarters pole in 1:29.3, at which point Na Naa Said So was ahead by a quarter length. It wasn’t over from there on in, though, as Na Naa Said So had to slug it out with Watch Me Dance (driven by Jason Hughes), who was looking to get the job done off of a second-over tow.
When the dust settled, it was Na Naa Said So who posted a neck victory over Watch Me Dance in 1:59.1. Woodmere Skyroller hung on for third.
Na Naa Said So is trained by Robert MacLeod for owners Hugh MacEachern (of Inverness, NS) and Ali MacEachern (Truro, NS).
In terms of the Joe O’Brien Memorial Gold divisions, Woodmere Rollnpop won his split in 1:58.1 for trainer-driver Clare MacDonald, who got the job done for owners Morah Kerr (Greenfield, NS) and Phonsie MacEachern (Port Hood, NS). Second went to Adam Merner-driven Mr Kelly while Red Dirt Fulofhart finished third for pilot David Dowling.
Tobins Rebel extended his career unbeaten streak to five in the other O’Brien Gold division, as he posted a three-and-three-quarter-length victory in 1:58.1 for trainer/driver Gilles Barrieau. U Bettim Watching, who was steered by Kenny Arsenault, finished second, while Krispy Krunch finished third for pilot Mike McGuigan. Barrieau trains and drives Tobins Rebel for owner Daniel Ross of Belfast.
For race replays and more, head to www.redshores.ca.
To view the harness racing results for Sunday at Summerside, click the following link: Sunday Results – Summerside Raceway.
(With files from Red Shores)