The streak of Shark Week is over.
Almost a year to the day of his last defeat — a sixth-place finish on April 29, 2023 — and after 17 straight victories, Shark Week was knocked off by Bonus Round in the $25,000 Preferred Pace on Saturday, April 27 at Century Downs.
As expected, Shark Week was sent off as the 1-9 choice in the field of six. And as expected, Shark Week was sent off the car for the front by driver Mike Hennessy. Flashing that typical early speed, Shark Week did clear to the top but was pressed a bit by inner leaver Samba Beat (Phil Giesbrecht) to get there. After a spicy :26.1 opening quarter, Hennessy turned down the heat and stole a 30-second breather in that second quarter for a :56.1 half.
The first horse to come calling was Carro B Bunsen (Logan Gillis) with last week's Preferred winner Bonus Round (David Kelly) spotted second over as the third station flashed up in 1:24.3. Hennessy started to look a bit antsy in the driver's seat as the pressure mounted behind him. For the first time in a year, Shark Week looked vulnerable at the head of stretch. And Kelly had Bonus Round in the perfect position to take down Alberta's apex predator.
Kelly flipped the switch with Bonus Round and tipped off the cover of Carro B Bunsen to start a three-wide attack around the far turn. Through a :28.1 final quarter, Bonus Round cleared the favourite down the stretch and prevailed in the 1:53.1 mile by just over a length. Samba Beat squeezed up the inside to edge out Shark Week for second.
Bonus Round (Santanna Blue Chip - Bouncing Hanover) is trained by David Kelly for owners Pick 6 Stable of Strathmore, Alta. The six-year-old scored his second win of the year and 15th lifetime to lift his lifetime earnings up to $148,510. As the 12-1 second choice, he returned $26.80 to win.
The eliminations for the Ed Tracey Memorial Pace were closer to form, with a pair of 1-2 favourites delivering wins for their connections and supporters.
The first $7,500 elimination went in the very next race, and was also captured by a David Kelly-trained and -driven competitor. Yru So Sirius looped to the lead after Smokn Joe (Giesbrecht) got there just before him in the opening turn and there was never a tense moment after that. After fractions of :28, :59.1 and 1:27.2, Yru So Sirius needed just a :28.4 kicker to win by more than four in a time of 1:56.1.
Opulent Dragon (Nathan Sobey) was next best, with Smokn Joe and Record High (Gillis) also advancing to next week's $30,000 final.
Paying $2.80 to win, Yru So Sirius (Captive Audience - Outlaw Star Bright) picked up his sixth lifetime victory for owners Kelly, Mike Dicks of Parkland County and Richard McPhee of Edmonton, Alta. This win provided Kelly with his third training tally of the card.
The tactics for 1-2 choice Up Yer Kilt in the second Tracey elim were different, but the result was the same: a win by a comfortable margin.
Here, Mike Hennessy allowed Panda Beer (Kelly) to front the field through opening fractions of :28 and :59 while sitting midpack in fourth. Giesbrecht attempted to flush Hennessy by advancing with Captain Van Gogh, but Hennessy didn't bite and stayed on the pylons to force Captain Van Gogh into an uncovered grind.
With no one following Giesbrecht, Hennessy tipped Up Yer Kilt into the outer flow as Panda Beer and Captain Van Gogh traded blows up front down the backside. Hennessy moved Up Yer Kilt into the three-wide path through a 1:26.1 third panel and swooped around those rivals with relative ease. A :29.4 final quarter was more than adequate for a 1:56 victory. Panda Beer stayed for second, followed by Jus Ched (Gillis) and Captain Van Gogh.
Trained by Rod Hennessy and co-owned by Rod & Diane Hennessy of Strathmore, Alta., Up Yer Kilt (Mystician - Dont Stare) picked up his third win of the year and eighth lifetime. He paid $3.00 to win.
Named in honour of the 2024 Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee, the Ed Tracey Memorial is for four-year-old pacing horses and geldings that are non winners of $30,000 as of December 1, 2023. The final is set for next Saturday, May 4.
To view the results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Alberta, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)