Those against Shark Week stood little chance when the Rod Hennessy trainee entered another gear into the final turn and stormed away through the flurries to a 1:55.3 win in the $13,500 Preferred Pace at Century Downs on Saturday (Nov. 5).
Driver Mike Hennessy sent the four-year-old Vertical Horizon stallion to the top from his assigned outer post and cruised through opening fractions of :28.2 and :57.1. Outlaw Gunsablazin pulled from third up the backside to press the issue to three-quarters in 1:27.2, though the issue became attempting to keep pace with Shark Week. Off the final turn, Shark Week opened three lengths and continued to widen the margin to the finish before crossing the beam eight lengths in front. Outlaw Gunsablazin settled for second and Ernesto Delacruz finished third, beaten another eight lengths.
Rod Hennessy co-owns Shark Week with Lorne Duffield. The win counts as No. 17 from 47 starts and adds to an account now worth $179,235. He paid $2.50 to win.
Nate Sobey pupil Divine Art continued her western domination with a 1:58.4 win against older company in the $13,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace.
Stash The Cookies cleared the lead from Divine Art to a :30.1 first quarter and carved through the snow to a :58.3 half and 1:28.4 three-quarters. Trainer-driver Nate Sobey revved Divine Art from the pocket coming off the corner and dug into Stash The Cookies through the lane to get a head in front at the finish while the pair pulled seven lengths clear of Betcha Baby in third.
Divine Art races for owners Robert T. Jones, Diane Bertrand and John Hind. She collected her 14th victory from 20 starts to push her bankroll to $248,877. The winner paid $4.20.
Saturday’s card capped the 2022 harness racing meet at Century Downs. Driver Brandon Campbell added two wins to his already insurmountable advantage to earn the title of meet’s leading driver with 93 wins total. Dave Kelly held second with no drives on the card, finishing with 75 wins while Giesbrecht tightened in third with a single victory to end with 73. Kelly Hoerdt took the training title with 43 wins with Nate Sobey tightening in second off a training double with 40 wins. Dave Kelly wrapped the meet in third with 37 wins.
Racing in Alberta shifts to Century Mile beginning on Friday, Nov. 18 and stays on a Friday-Saturday race schedule through Dec. 17 with the exception of a special card on Thursday, Nov. 24 for the 2022 National Driving Championship. The meet also includes a Boxing Day card on Monday, Dec. 26 and a New Year’s Eve card on Saturday, Dec. 31.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results – Century Downs.