Veteran pacer No Collusion was in career best form on Saturday, Dec. 2 at Century Mile, forging gamely first over to notch his first top class score at the Edmonton, Alta. oval.
With apex predator Shark Week still sitting out these tussles, a compact field of five went postward in the $14,000 Preferred Pace on Saturday night. Brandon Campbell settled No Collusion midpack in third as favoured Ernesto Delacruz (J. F. Gagne) paced through panels of :27.2 and :55.1 unfettered on the front.
Heading into the final turn, Campbell pulled the right line on No Collusion and the pacer willingly responded with confident strides. A quarter length back at the 1:23.3 third station, No Collusion powered home in :27.4 to best Ernesto Delacruz by three parts of a length with the mile timed in a lifetime best 1:51.2. Samba Beat (Phil Giesbrecht) rounded out the top trio.
Co-owned by trainer Lance Ward along with Sean Ward of Edmonton, Alta., No Collusion (Riverboat King - Jerrys Girl) notched his sixth win of the year in his 31st start. Lifetime, No Collusion ($14.80) has made 67 starts over the past two seasons after not hitting the racetrack until the age of five. The Preferred win was not only a lifetime best, it also pushed his bankroll into six figures. No Collusion now sports $100,834 in earnings.
Understandably, the Preferred was one race where Shark Week's driver Mike Hennessy didn't have an assignment. His night was still solid as he won five of his 11 Saturday attempts. Hennessy's five-bagger included wins with Panda Beer (1:55.3; $5.60) in the second race, Up Yer Kilt (1:55.1; $9.70) in the third, Captain Fireball (1:53.3; $14.70) in the ninth and All Speculation (1:56.2; $9.30) in the 10th before closing the card with an impressive victory courtesy Go On Bow Bow (1:56.3; $3.70) in the 12th race finale.
The 2023 season is close to a career best year for Hennessy. With 140 wins on the year, he's two away from his previous personal best of 142 from 2017. Money-wise, he's already set a new personal earnings record with his first million-dollar season. After Saturday's card, the Lacombe, Alta.-based reinsman boasts more than $1.1 million in seasonal bounty.
To view the results from Saturday's card of harness racing at Century Mile, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Mile.