Over the last nine months, pacing mare Kiss Me Im Irish has shown the kind of the form that could make her a dominant force in Cape Breton this season.
On Saturday (June 4) the five-year-old picked up her first win in the Winners Over top class at Northside Downs, powering away to a four-length score as the second longest shot on the toteboard.
Driver Mark Pezzarello positioned Kiss Me Im Irish ($19.10) second over behind dueling leaders Johnnie Jack (Ryan Campbell) and Gentry Seelster (Jake Jacobs) at the :59.4 midway mark. Pezzarello pushed the button for three-wide action heading down the backside and his mare obliged willingly. Clearing the first-over attacked before the far turn, Kiss Me Im Irish looked Johnnie Jack in the eye through that final quarter and Johnnie Jack had no reply. Kiss Me Im Irish was much the best, hitting the wire in 1:59. A Better Man (Gerard Kennedy) got up for second with Johnnie Jack completing the triactor.
Owned by trainer Robert MacNeil of Sydney Mines, N.S. along with Bernard MacNeil of Miscouche, P.E.I. and Joseph MacNeil of Ingonish, N.S., Kiss Me Im Irish (Big Jim - First Lady Of Art) now sports a 2-1-0 summary from four seasonal starts. Dating back to last September, her record is 7-2-1 from 15 attempts while garnering cheques in 13 of those starts.
The Saturday card also featured the first training win for Joel Le Blanc, whose five-year-old Howmac Napoleon towed driver Redmond Doucet wire-to-wire in 2:00 for the milestone tally. Le Blanc notched his first win in his fourth start with Howmac Napoleon, who he co-owns with Harold Le Blanc of Sydney and Ian McKinnon & Brenda MacQueen of Glace Bay, N.S.
For results from Saturday's card, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.