Mike Hennessy had the hot hands on Saturday, May 4 at Century Downs, finding his way to the winner's circle in the finals of the two four-year-old stakes contested.
The Kentucky Derby Day card at Century Downs featured the $45,000 Bev Sears Memorial for four-year-old pacing mares, and the $30,000 Ed Tracey Memorial for four-year-old male pacers.
While each of his drives in those finals were sent off as betting choices, their paths to victory lane were quite different.
Leaving from the pylons in the Bev Sears, Hennessy sent 1-5 shot Outlawabovenbeyond to the top and played a fierce game of catch-me-if-you-can. Getting away with soft early fractions of :28.4, :58 and 1:26, Outlawabovenbeyond hit the afterburners in that final quarter. Closing in :28.2 provided a six-length advantage over Riskofthunderstorm (Colin Kelly) at the wire, with the mile timed in 1:54.2. Tina La Vida (Kelly Hoerdt) rounded out the top three.
Rod Starkewski trains Outlawabovenbeyond (pictured above), and he co-owns the four-year-old daughter of Captive Audience - Watchasgirlsgoby with Clauzette Byckal of Onoway, Alta. As the 1-5 choice, she paid $2.40 to win and has now pushed her seasonal unbeaten streak to five. Lifetime, her summary after 16 starts reads 9-1-1 and her bankroll stands at $58,587.
Up Yer Kilt delivered as the public choice in the Ed Tracey Memorial, executing with off the pace tactics.
Hennessy watched as Yru So Sirius (Colin Kelly) kept Jus Ched (Logan Gillis) parked through a :27.4 opener but then positioned Up Yer Kilt second over as the half flashed up in a moderate :59.2. Straightening out down the backside provided Hennessy with the right time to fan three wide and loop those involved in the early skirmish. Hitting the third station in 1:26.2, Up Yer Kilt had enough separation to hold off a late rally from Opulent Dragon (Nathan Sobey) to trip the timer in 1:56.2. Opulent Dragon was a length back, and Yru So Sirius stayed for the show spot.
A son of Mystician-Dont Stare, Up Yer Kilt is co-owned by trainer Rod Hennessy and Diane Hennessy of Strathmore, Alta. The win was his fourth of the year and ninth lifetime, pushing his earnings over the $60,000 plateau.
Up Yer Kilt paid $2.80 to win as the 2-5 choice, giving Hennessy a total of four wins on the day.
To view the results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Alberta, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)