Don't call it a comeback. He's been here for years.
After dropping into the conditioned ranks for a few starts, Shark Week has returned to the Preferred class in Western Canada. And he's showing that he's not ready to pass the torch to his younger rivals just yet.
A 1:50.2 winner one week ago, Shark Week showed that mile was no fluke with another sub-1:51 performance on Saturday, July 25 in the co-featured $15,000 Preferred Pace..
Leaving from the rail, Shark Week timed the gate perfectly for driver Mike Hennessy and took his familiar place on the front end. The even money slight second choice sped through fractions of :26.1; :55.3 and 1:22.1 ahead of win pool favourite Mercedes (Brandon Campbell) before those two squared off in a two-horse breakaway to the delight of the Packwood Grand infield party. Shark Week fought off that challenge, besting his rival by three parts of a length in 1:50.3. Outlaw Game On completed the top trio for driver Dave Kelly.
Trained and co-owned by Rod Hennessy of Lacombe, Alta. along with Lorne Duffield of Edmonton, Alta., Shark Week scored the 69th victory of his decorated career and lifted his earnings just shy of the $600,000 mark. The eight-year-old son of Vertical Horizon-Shark Gone Bad retuned $4.30 to his win supporters.
The front end was also the place to be in the $15,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace as Grey Sea played a fierce game of catch-me-if-you-can with her five rivals at the request of driver Brandon Campbell. Starting from post five, Grey Sea made every call a winning one through fractions of :27.1, :57 and 1:24.2 before breezing home in :28.4 to trip the timer in 1:53.1. Outlaw Sharktastic sat the pocket throughout for driver Nathan Sobey but had no response and settled for second, 2-3/4 lengths off the winner. Georgia Hanover (Dave Kelly) rounded out the triactor ticket.
Gord Abbott trains Grey Sea, a seven-year-old daughter of Custard The Dragon-Preference owned by Seaspray Stables Ltd. of Nanaimo, B.C. She's now a 33-time winner in her career with more than $307,000 in purses earned. As the 1-2 favourite, Grey Sea returned $3 to win.
Handle on the 10-race card reached $357,377 on the afternoon, just off the $372,382 record set on the 11-dash Packwood Grand card in 2024.
For results from the Saturday card of harness racing outside Calgary, Alta., click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)