The father-son duo of Rod and Mike Hennessy teamed for a three-win day Saturday, Aug. 22 at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino. The trio of victories included a slight upset in the $70,000 ASHA Pace Final for two-year-old fillies, winning with 11-1 Blue Star Shania in 1:57.3.
Lining up fifth in the field of eight, Mike Hennessy and Blue Star Shania slipped in behind favoured Dixieland Delight at the start. Driver James Jungquist controlled the field with fractions of :28.2, :58.4 and 1:27.1 despite a challenge on the outside by Montana Sky (Philip Giesbrecht). In the stretch, Blue Star Shania sped home with a 30-second last quarter, producing just enough momentum to push a head in front at the line. Montana Sky finished third, 1-1/2 lengths back.
The victory is the second in four starts for the Captain Deo-Blue Star Dreaming freshman (pictured). The filly, now a winner of $46,483, is owned by Lorne Duffield of Edmonton, Alta., and Diane and Rod Hennessy of Lacombe, Alta.
The Hennessys also connected in a $15,000 ABSS Marquis elimination for sophomore pacing fillies, sending Terrible Custard to the winner’s circle with a 1:55.1 clocking. Drawing the outside in a field reduced to five, Terrible Custard raced off the pace early as favoured Blue Star Strike and driver Drew Campbell raced on the engine through splits of :29.4, :59.3 and 1:27.1. Mike Hennessy had his mount a head off the leader at the top of the stretch, and the filly overtook Blue Star Strike while holding off the rally of Lets Go Gals (Rod Therres) by three parts of a length. Chasing the Dragon (Brandon Campbell) was a distant fourth.
The victory was the third consecutive for the Custard The Dragon-Remember Terror filly, owned by Duffield. Terrible Custard has won five of 13 starts this season, and the latest win pushed her career bankroll into six figures, now standing at $103,494.
Shark Week delivered the third win on the program for the team, a dominant gate-to-wire performance in the $15,500 Preferred Pace. The gelding, steered by Mike Hennessy, earned his 70th career win by a measured length in a time of 1:52.2. Hands Off Harry (Nathan Sobey) followed the favourite throughout to finish second, with Outlaw Game On (Giesbrecht) racing third.
Shark Week is an eight-year-old gelded son of Vertical Horizon-Shark Gone Bad. He is owned by Duffield in partnership with Rod Hennessy. The veteran pacer now possesses earnings of $608,385.
Mike Hennessy finished the day with four winners on the card. He captured the finale with favoured Wheres Papi, wiring the field in 1:52.
Y V Michters and driver David Kelly reached the wire first in the $70,000 ASHA Pace Final for freshman colts and geldings, stopping the timer in 1:56. When the gate folded, rail horse Forbearance and Brandon Campbell grabbed the early lead, reaching the quarter in :29.1. Kelly, meanwhile, sat fourth, but was out and moving behind Dungannigans (Sobey) before the field reached the half in :58.4. Racing on the outside, Y V Michters was primed to strike as the field raced into the turn (1:27), and Kelly moved three-wide with the second choice.
Turning for home, Kelly’s charge kicked past the leader with a :28.2 final panel to win by three-quarters of a length. Forbearance managed second while Dungannigans dead-heated for third with a late-charging Dragonkind, driven by Jamie Gray.
Y V Michters has won two of five seasonal starts for trainer Rod Starkewski of Lamont, Alta., who shares ownership in the Captain Deo-Dime Hanover gelding with Christopher Lambie of Rockyview County, Alta. The freshman has earned $49,658 this season, and the victory established a new lifetime mark.
Kelly reached the winner’s circle again in the other $15,000 ABSS Marquis elimination. This time he did so with Faith And Grace, a filly he owns and trains, in a gate-to-wire effort.
Lining up fourth in the field of seven, Kelly sent his pupil to the lead and clicked off fractions of :27.5, :58.1 and 1:26 while expanding the lead to three lengths. The duo would win comfortably, crossing the finish 3-1/2 lengths to the good in a lifetime best 1:54.4. Favourite Mystery Shooter (Sobey) finished second, with B A Dragon (Giesbrecht) close behind in third.
The three-year-old daughter of Captain Deo-Racy Gracie collected her first seasonal score and second career win. In 17 starts, Faith And Grace has earned $56,858.
In the first $15,000 ABSS Maverick Pace elimination for sophomore colt and gelding pacers, Ruler Of Dragons ruled the front and was a comfortable 1:53 winner with Giesbrecht at the controls. Drawing the rail, the favoured Jamie Gray trainee led every fraction (:27.1, :56.3 and 1:24.4) before sprinting home with a :28.1 last quarter to win by 2-3/4 lengths. Outlaw Country On (Drew Campbell) rode the pocket seat for second, with Mr Jeter (Kelly Hoerdt).
Owned by J J J Stables of North Vancouver, B.C., Paul Sanders of Surrey, B.C. and Gray of Sturgeon County, Alta., Ruler Of Dragons picked up his third win in seven seasonal attempts, and eighth career tally. The Custard The Dragon-Lady Neigh Neigh gelding has $213,316 on his card. The winning time established a new lifetime mark for the pacer.
Y V Weller won the second $15,000 ABSS Maverick Pace elimination, speeding home in :28.3 to win by open lengths for driver Drew Campbell. Getting away from the gate third as the betting public’s second choice, Y V Weller patiently rode the pylons as The Great Shark (Therres) set fractions of :27.1 and :55.4. Gray and favoured Boleto A Mexico pulled from second, and Campbell followed with Y V Weller, racing on the outside to three quarters (1:24). Taking command before the stretch, Y V Weller stormed home with a strong kick, tripping the timer in 1:52.4 while distancing his rivals by 4-1/2 lengths. Boleto A Mexico raced second while Vegas Gangster (Hennessy) finished third.
Y V Weller is a three-year-old Mystery Chase-Dime Hanover gelding, and half-brother to Y V Michters. He is owned by Lambie and Starkewski, who also serves as conditioner, and has won five of 14 seasonal attempts. Now a winner of $48,723, Y V Weller established a new mark with the win.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs
(Standardbred Canada)