Shark Week put his talent on display during Alberta's first-ever Harness The Hope Night at Century Mile on Saturday, Oct. 26, extending his latest win streak to seven against Preferred competition.

Chasing the starting gate away in the $25,000 Preferred, Shark Week opened up a quick five-length lead and set fractional times of :27.1, :56.2 and 1:24.4 en route to another dominating victory in 1:52.2 for driver Mike Hennessy. Samba Beat (Phil Giesbrecht) rallied late for second, finishing 2-3/4 lengths behind, and Bonus Round (Dave Kelly) got up for third.

While Shark Week hadn't raced in four weeks, horseplayers were confident in Alberta's fastest pacer, making him the overwhelming 1-9 favourite. Delivering on his pari-mutuel promise, Shark Week paid $2.10 across the board.

The six-year-old Vertical Horizon-Shark Gone Bad gelding is now nine-for-10 this year and has 49 career wins with earnings totalling $420,225 for trainer Rod Hennessy and co-owner Lorne Duffield.

Trainer Travis Ellis won four of Saturday's 10 races that included a 1-2 finish for his stable in the fourth race with Airline Pilot ($3.60, Brandon Campbell) and Flying Officer (Mike Hennessy). Ellis earned his other victories with Tajmania (Phil Giesbrecht, $15.20) and recent stable newcomers Trust Me Alot ($16.50, Nathan Sobey) and Tzilacatzin ($7.30, Phil Giesbrecht).

Century Mile and the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association hosted Alberta's inaugural Harness The Hope event, which raised $16,000 for the Alberta Cancer Foundation. Founded in 2005 by an Ontario harness racing family, Harness The Hope benefits breast cancer support programs, awareness and research with events held across racetracks in Canada. Harness The Hope expanded to Alberta with Saturday's fundraising efforts including sponsorships and the sale of raffle tickets.

The Harness The Hope festivities included a Powder Puff Derby after the evening's fifth race, featuring women amateur drivers Gabrielle Hoerdt, Dr. Ashley Lamond, Donna Wyse, Julie Lambert and Brinsley Miller. Retros Mystery was a runaway leader down the backstretch for Lamond, but Hurricane J and Hoerdt reeled them in late to win by a length. Do No Harm and Wyse won the battle for third over Gia On The Valley and Lambert.

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Mile.

(Standardbred Canada)