Planets aligned as Century Mile hosted the Western Canada Pacing Derby eliminations, each worth a $14,000 purse prize, on Saturday (Oct. 14) evening with Blue Star Mercury and Over The Horizon winning their respective splits.
Blue Star Mercury posted a massive 32-1 upset in his elimination, collecting the lion's share of the $14,000 purse and snapping the 13-race win streak of Virtual Horizon in the process.
Mike Hennessy and the Rod Hennessy pupil got away fifth from post seven as pacesetting Virtual Horizon (Brandon Campbell) hit the first panel in :28.3. While Virtual Horizon landed the next two panels in :57.3 and 1:25.4, Blue Star Mercury moved into fourth and then, second over at the three-quarters. In the final turn, Blue Star Mercury took command of the field and never looked back as he won by a comfortable 2-1/2 lengths in 1:53.4. Virtual Horizon had to settle for second with One Major Hottie (Philip Giesbrecht) third and Mickie Mantle (Kelly Hoerdt) fourth.
Lorne Duffield and Jean Crochetiere co-own the three-year-old Mystician gelding as he earned his third seasonal and third career win. Blue Star Mercury paid $66.70 to win.
In the second elimination, Over The Horizon was the favourite in his field of eight, leaving from the gate as post seven with trainer Nathan Sobey on board. Tin Can Timmy (Thomas Michael Miller) was the first to the front along the pylons, but Over The Horizon powered to the top from the outside to be the first to the opening panel marker in :28.2. Over The Horizon only held command for a short stint as Handsome Dan (Philip Giesbrecht) took over to lead to the half in :56.1 and three-quarters in 1:25.3. Over The Horizon rallied from third in the stretch to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:54.1. General Custard (David Kelly) landed in second and Handsome Dan took third. Matts Gem (Hoerdt) was fourth.
Over The Horizon (Vertical Horizon - Contesta Hanover) is owned by Sobey, Keith Clark and Robert Jones as the three-year-old colt earned his sixth win of the season and his career. He paid $5.40 to win from 2-1 odds.
Shark Week Maintains Win Streak; Sets New Track Record
Shark Week made every pole a winning one en route to a 5-3/4-length achievement in the $14,000 Preferred Pace.
Rod and Mike Hennessy teamed up again on the Saturday evening card to send the five-year-old gelding to his 11th win in a row in the feature division. Shark Week posted panels in :26.1, :54.4 and 1:23.2 before opening up on the field to win in 1:50.3. Ernesto Delacruz (Jean Francois Gagne) finished second and Matts A Mystician (Nathan Sobey) was third.
The time of the mile establishes a new all-age track record for the Edmonton area oval, besting the 1:51.1 mark of Jewels Dragon from 2019.
Shark Week (Vertical Horizon - Shark Gone Bad) is owned by Rod Hennessy and Lorne Duffield. He moved his seasonal record to 16-0-2 in 20 starts with $113,990 earned. Shark Week now has 36 career tallies with $313,475 banked. He paid $2.60 to win as the bettors' choice.
Alberta Sires Stakes Divisions Contested On Saturday
Two Alberta Sires Stakes Starburst divisions for two-year-old fillies were contested on the evening card, each worth a $27,100 purse sum.
Born A Spy ($3.50) took the first division in 1:57 by 3-1/4 lengths with Philip Giesbrecht in the bike for trainer John Chappell and owner Donna Wyse. Delta Sunrise (Logan Gillis) finished second and Foothills Magic (Jamie Gray) completed the ticket.
Byby Baby Byby ($12.70) pocketed the second division by a half length in 1:52.2 with Michael Hennessy giving the winning drive for trainer Rodney Hennessy and owners Bryan Brook and Diane Hennessy. Outlawguns N Roses (David Kelly) finished second and Cf Faline (Doug Chappell) took the show spot.
The time of this mile also set a new track standard, shaving a full second off the 1:53.2 mark of Outlaw Guns N Roses taken in late September. Of note, Byby Baby Byby's 1:52.2 mark is faster than the 1:52.3 track record of Lady Neigh Neigh AND just as fast as the fastest older pacing mare, Stash The Cookies.
Two $27,100 Alberta Sires Stakes Lone Star divisions for two-year-old colts and geldings followed the Starburst divisions with Matteuse and Grey Horizon shining in their respective splits.
Matteuse ($72.70) won by a length in 1:56.2 in the first division with Nathan Sobey piloting his trainee to victory. He co-owns the colt with Robert Jones, Diane Bertrand and Robert Gilhespy. Come On Santana (Jamie Gray) was second with Sharkasaurus (Michael Hennessy) third.
Grey Horizon ($2.40) went gate-to-wire in the second split with Brandon Campbell steering his trainee to an 11-3/4-length romp in 1:55.2 for owners Jodi Loftus, Raymond Henry and George Rogers. HF Winknat Jenna (David Kelly) and Cenalta Gunfire (Kelly Hoerdt) rounded out the top three finish order.
Trainers Hennessy, Campbell Dominate Evening Action
In addition to the victories in the Western Canada Pacing Derby elimination, Preferred Pace and ABSS Starburst division, Rod Hennessy tallied a win in the opener with Up Yer Kilt ($8) to give him four wins on the card. Mike Hennessy gave the winning drive in 1:54.2.
Brandon Campbell steered four of his own to victory with a win in the ABSS Lone Star as well as in three condition classes with Rockin Roller ($2.30) in 1:53, Wink N Win ($5.60) in 1:54.4 and Tiempo Hanover ($11.90) in 1:53.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Mile.
Shark Week
Shark Week has been assigned the outside post position in 16 of his last 17 races, and he won all but 3 of them. He hasn't been beaten since last April. If there's a world record kept for the most consecutive races being assigned the outside post position, Shark Week surely holds it by now.