Never in the history of harness racing in Western Canada had a Standardbred raced a mile in under 1:50. Shark Week became the first to break the barrier when taking the $14,000 Preferred Pace on a stakes-filled card Saturday afternoon (June 3) at Century Downs.

Sent off as the 1-9 choice, Shark Week went about business as usual on the point and scampered away from his competition off front splits of :26.2, :54.4 and 1:22.3. The five-year-old Vertical Horizon gelding raced the clock to the finish as no competitors loomed, and with a :26.4 final quarter, Shark Week breached the sub-1:50 threshold with a 1:49.2 clocking. He finished 8-3/4 lengths better than Bonus Round, who snagged second from pocket-sitter Armycaptin Hanover.

Shark Week, having just lowered his own track record of 1:50.1 he set last week, collected his 29th win from 63 starts and has now earned $264,475 for owners Lorne Duffield and Rod Hennessy, who also trains the gelding. He paid $2.10 to win.

A pair of Alberta Sires Stakes (ABSS) finals went to post on the Saturday card, highlighted by the $59,600 ABSS Alberta Marksman won by 4-5 favourite Virtual Horizon in 1:53.4.

Trainer-driver Brandon Campbell cleared command with Virtual Horizon past a :28 first quarter to pocket Yru So Sirius past the stands first time. He strolled to a :56.4 half and endured a first-over challenge from second favourite Mickie Mantle towards three-quarters in 1:25.2 – a challenge he disposed with ease. Virtual Horizon opened three lengths to the top of the stretch and just carried his speed home to win wrapped by two lengths over Mickie Mantle. Tin Can Timmy rode cover from second over for third and Catfish Jack sat a pylon trip to take fourth.

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Virtual Horizon bagged his fifth win in a row and his eighth victory from 12 starts. He has now earned $137,938. Jodi Loftus, George Rogers and Raymond Henry own the colt by Vertical Horizon who paid $3.50 to win.

The win capped a training hat trick for Brandon Campbell as he won earlier with Lost Control (1:56 winning mile; $5.30 to win) and One Major Hottie (1:56.4; $4.40).

In the co-featured $56,600 ABSS Alberta Diamond, Shesmyinspiration built off a swoop of the field at 9-5 to swoop the field for the big money, at big money of 17-1, in 1:54.4.

Beep Bop A Lula lunged for the front to a :28 first quarter but promptly faced a first-over push from Festiveus, who pulled first over after landing fifth from her second-tier starting spot. Festiveus dug into the pacesetter to a :56.4 half and crept closer to her throat through three-quarters in 1:25.1.

Caviar N Crackers sat perched second over, though trainer-driver Nate Sobey abandoned his spot from fourth over with Shesmyinspiration to spring three high and charge her assault for home. Sobey straightened with the daughter of Outrageous Art and blasted through a six-length deficit to score a half-length victory on Beep Bop A Lula while Caviar N Crackers grabbed third. Festiveus braved the outside journey to hold fourth.

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Sobey co-owns Shesmyinspiration with Keith Clark and John Hind. She won her fourth race from seven starts and has now earned $41,516. The winner paid $36.90 for the upset.

To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results – Century Downs.