Harassed the entire mile, Shark Week held tough to win the $16,000 Preferred Handicap Pace at Century Downs on Thursday, Aug. 7 and extend his latest winning streak to five.
Alberta's fastest all-time horse took off from post six, quickly reaching the engine, but the parked-out Midnight Mover (Kelly Hoerdt) drove on to engage him at the quarter in :26.3. Shark Week had no designs on relinquishing the lead, and he held command through :54.1 and 1:23.4 with Midnight Mover travelling with him on the outside.
Mike Hennessy put Shark Week to task on the final turn as Midnight Mover tired and fresher legs emerged from the backfield in the form of the three-wide Bonus Round (Dave Kelly). Bonus Round bore down as they raced through the stretch, but Shark Week, gritty as ever, held him off to complete the victory in 1:54. Bonus Round finished second, a length ahead of Rum N Raisins (Jamie Gray).
Shark Week tallied his 12th win of the season in 15 starts for trainer Rod Hennessy, who co-owns him with Lorne Duffield of Edmonton, Alta. The son of Vertical Horizon-Shark Gone Bad, who holds the all-age records at both Century Downs and Century Mile, has won 61 of his 99 lifetime starts and has earned $519,270. He paid $2.60 to win.
Trainer Nathan Sobey sent out three winners on the 10-race card, leading all conditioners. Diva Amour ($23.80) circled the field to land a 10-1 upset in the second race with James Jungquist at the lines for Sobey’s first win of the day, followed by Matteuse’s ($5.70) uncovered last-to-first victory in race five in line to Kelly. The trainer completed his triple as Matts A Mystician ($5.80) crushed his foes in the ninth race with Logan Gillis in the bike.
Sobey brought his seasonal win total to 43 with Thursday’s performance and moved to within eight wins of the lead in the trainers’ standings. Travis Ellis is on top with 38, but 10 tallies separate the top five.
To view Thursday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Century Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)