1:50 barrier broken for first time ever in Western Canada

Shark Week (Vertical Horizon), who set the fastest harness racing mile in Western Canada history last week, went nearly a second faster to become the first horse in the region ever to break 1:50 at Century Downs on Saturday (Jun. 3).

In a similarly dominant display to the prior week, he went to the front for Michael Hennessy and cruised through panels of :26.2, :54.4, and 1:22.3. He again began to open up rounding the far turn and thundered down the lane. Hennessy urged him home, and Shark Week wrote his name in the record books as he hit the wire and the teletimer flashed 1:49.2. Bonus Round (Dave Kelly) finished second over Armycaptin Hanover (Nathan Sobey).

SHARK WEEK REPLAY

Shark Week set the regional and track record of 1:50.2 on May 27. In this week’s Preferred win, he improved his career stats to 28-for-62 with $257,475 in earnings. Rodney Hennessy trains and co-owns the gelding with Lorne Duffield.

Century Downs also hosted the finals of the Alberta Sires Stakes Marksman and Diamond, both for three-year-old pacers, on the card.

Shesmyinspiration (Outrageous Art) was dismissed at 17-1 despite her elimination win, and the filly pulled off a shocker as she passed five horses in the final eighth of a mile to win the $55,600 ABSS Diamond.

She motioned out of seventh for Nathan Sobey while turning for the backstretch and advanced to catch cover fourth-over before tipping three-wide near three-quarters. Leader Beep Bop A Lula clung to the lead on the final turn with a cavalry charge including Shesmyinspiration looming behind her. Beep Bop A Lula dug in down the stretch and entered the final 1/16th in front, but Shesmyinspiration found big late pace and roared past her just in time to take the Diamond in 1:54.4.

Beep Bop A Lula held second by a half-length. Caviar N Crackers (Phil Giesbrecht) finished third.

SHESMYINSPIRATION REPLAY

Shesmyinspiration, who began racing this year, is now four-for-seven with $41,516 in the bank. She won her elimination of the race and two conditioned events. Sobey trains the filly and shares ownership with Keith Clark of Foothills and John Hind of Calgary.

Virtual Horizon (Vertical Horizon) went five-for-five on the season as he captured the $59,600 ABSS Marksman.

He was third fastest away and dropped briefly into the three-hole before Campbell sent him to the front passing the quarter-mile marker in :28. Virtual Horizon took over quickly and maintained speed to the half in :56.4. Mickie Mantle (Phil Giesbrecht) pushed the pace from first over on the backstretch and was alongside the leader at three-quarters in 1:25.2.

Campbell put Virtual Horizon into full drive swinging for home, and the colt responded instantly. He drew three lengths clear of Mickie Mantle and Tin Can Timmy (Logan Gillis) at the head of the stretch, and Campbell had the whip away at the 1/16th pole as Virtual Horizon coasted home to score in 1:53.4.

Mickie Mantle beat out Tin Can Timmy in a determined battle for place.

VIRTUAL HORIZON REPLAY

Virtual Horizon won his division’s Alberta Sires Stakes Super Final last year. He’s perfect through five to start 2023 and eight-for-12 lifetime. Brandon Campbell has conditioned the colt to $137,938 in career earnings for owners Jodi Loftus, George Rogers, and Raymond Henry of Calgary.

The Diamond and Marksman events were the first leg of the Alberta Sires Stakes program. The next event, the Marquis and Maverick, will have eliminations on Jul. 15 at Century Downs with finals a week later. The Super Finals will be held on Nov. 4

Century Downs will continue racing on Friday, Jun. 9.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink