Sent the 7-5 favourite, Flying Officer soared into the stretch to nail pocket-popper Kootenay Lager and win in the second division of the second prelim for the Century Milers Pacing Series on Saturday, Dec. 7 at Century Mile.
Driver Michael Hennessy sat last in the quintet with Flying Officer while Loaded Deck set fractions of :30.1, 1:00 and 1:30. Carro P Thunder attempted to advance first over around the final turn with Joe King on his back but stalled while Flying Officer charged from the back. The Rod Hennessy trainee kicked to the finish in :26.2 to get a nose in front of stablemate and late-race leader Kootenay Lager in a 1:57.2 mile. Joe King rallied off cover for third.
Co-owned by Rod Hennessy with Lorne Duffield, Flying Officer won his fifth race from 26 starts, earning $23,559. The three-year-old Riverboat King gelding paid $4.80 to win.
Stalking speed set by battling leaders, Dont Rock The Boat sprung to a three-and-three-quarter length victory in the first Century Milers division.
Rock N Roll Dragon protected command from the pylons, parking Hf Shadow Racer to a :29.2 first quarter while odds-on favourite Hf Jesse James raced three wide into the backstretch. The favourite continued to race towards the center of the track heading to a :59.4 half until crossing to the two-path as Hf Shadow Racer faltered.
Meanwhile Dont Rock The Boat sat pocket entering the final turn. Driver Phil Giesbrecht angled the Riverboat King gelding from third as Hf Jesse James advanced to take a brief lead from Rock N Roll Dragon through three-quarters in 1:29.1. The pair paced evenly into the stretch while Dont Rock The Boat swung past and darted to a 1:57.3 victory. Hf Jesse James held second with Rock N Roll Dragon third.
Owned by trainer Kevin Hildebrandt and Amber Hildebrandt, Dont Rock The Boat won his third race from 23 starts, earning $9,846. He paid $18.30 to win.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Century Mile.