Mike Hennessy stole the show at Century Mile on Saturday, Dec. 16, driving half of the evening's winners.
The hot-handed reinsman drove back-to-back winners right out of the gate, sending sophomore filly Cenalta Token ($6) down the road in a 7-1/4-length romp for trainer Kelly Ducharme then guiding Tropical Dragon ($8.40) home first in a neck decision as the claiming pacer won his debut from the Travis Ellis stable.
Hennessy later struck with trainer Marie Brooking's three-year-old filly Carro Nouveau ($27.50) for a 12-1 upset in race five after the front-striding favourite broke stride in the stretch.
He then eked out of a sweep of the late Daily Double to close out the 10-race card as this year's Western Canada Pacing Derby champion Blue Star Mercury ($6.50) and Manitoba stakes-winning sophomore filly Maching Millions ($14.60) won their Saturday assignments by a head and nose, respectively. Hennessy's father Rod trains Blue Star Mercury while Maching Millions was another winner from the Ellis barn.
With his five Saturday successes, Hennessy has a new career-high of 147 wins in a single season. This year marks his first million-dollar campaign, having driven horses to more than $1.15 million.
He currently sits third in the Century Mile driver standings for 2023 with 59 local wins, just one behind Dave Kelly and 16 off leader Brandon Campbell.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Mile.