Lucky 13 for Shark Week

Shark Week (Vertical Horizon) devoured another Preferred-Handicap at Century Mile to extend his harness racing winning streak to 13 on Saturday (Nov. 4).

In a repeat of the last Preferred Handicap, Shark Week muscled to the front for Michael Hennessy and towed Ernesto Delacruz (Jean-Francois Gagne) along in the pocket. The first two panels were :26.4 and :55.1, but Samba Beat (Phil Giesbrecht) pulled from third approaching the final turn and pressured Shark Week to three-quarters in 1:23.4.

Samba Beat remained the main threat as they came down the lane with Ernesto Delacruz also chasing Alberta’s top free-for-aller. But Shark Week held them to minimal gains, and he motored home to victory in 1:51.2 with a length-and-a-quarter in reserve at the line.

Ernesto Delacruz eclipsed Samba Beat late for second.

SHARK WEEK REPLAY

Shark Week’s win streak began on May 6 with a Preferred win at Century Downs. Since then, he has broken the overall track records at that track and Century Mile, becoming the first horse in Western Canada history to break 1:50 on Jun. 3. Rodney Hennessy trains the gelding and co-owns him with Lorne Duffield of Edmonton. Shark Week has now earned $327,475 and won 38 times from 72 career starts.

The Preferred Handicap was an undercard event to the Alberta Sires Stakes Super Finals. To read about them and watch the replays, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink