16-1 upset in calamitous $53,600 Maverick

Vertical Horizon three-year-olds Yyc On The Horizon and Byby Baby Byby both pulled harness racing upsets in their respective Alberta Sires Stakes events totaling $107,800 in purses on Saturday (Jul. 13) at Century Downs.

Yyc On The Horizon had the longer odds — 16-1 — of the two, and the biggest margin of victory after capitalizing on third-quarter mayhem involving the leaders in the $53,600 Alberta Sires Stakes Maverick.

He was away sixth for Dave Kelly as Come On Santana pushed forward to the lead after the quarter in :28.4 and maintained that position to the half in :57.2. At that point, 2/5 favourite Grey Horizon (Brandon Campbell) pulled from third and hooked wheels with One Hot Minute (Mike Hennessy) in the pocket. They forced the rest of the field to take evasive action with Phone Nine One One (Logan Gillis) and Matteuse (Nathan Sobey) ending up side-by-side on the backstretch as Come On Santana built a cushion.

Yyc On The Horizon tipped three-wide around the dueling pair and charged right past the leader at three-quarters in 1:27. The rest of the field could only chase as Yyc On The Horizon rumbled home to a five-and-a-half-length victory in 1:56.1.

Rum N Custard (Kelly Hoerdt) came home best of the trailing pack, followed by Matteuse. After a driver’s objection, Come On Santana was found guilty of interference by way of an abrupt reduction in speed and was placed ninth from fifth.

YYC ON THE HORIZON REPLAY

Yyc On The Horizon, who debuted this year, is now three-for-nine. He won his elimination in 1:55, a new career best. Jamie Gray trains the three-year-old and co-owns him with Wild Dunes Stables of Delta. The gelding has now earned $41,909.

Byby Baby Byby took over at the quarter and went on to prevail in the $54,200 Alberta Sires Stakes Marquis.

The filly, off at 5-1, climbed past Over Ice (Campbell) at the quarter in :27.2 but had early company from Outlawguns N Roses (Kelly), the early favourite recovering from a break after the start. Byby Baby Byby played hardball, parking the challenger out through the half in :55.3 and three-quarters in 1:24.1.

Outlawguns N Roses dropped out coming towards the final turn, and Byby Baby Byby faced no additional challengers as she cruised to a three-length score in 1:54.2. Foothills Magic (Phil Giesbrecht) took second from Over Ice.

BYBY BABY BYBY REPLAY

Byby Baby Byby, who won the Shirley McClellan Memorial two back, is now six-for-13 lifetime. She is a defending Alberta Sires Stakes champion and has earned $178,385. Rodney Hennessy trains the filly for breeders Bryan Brook of Leduc and Diane Hennessy of Strathmore.

Also on the card, Shark Week returned to the winner’s circle off a three-month absence. The gelding, who won 17 in a row last year while setting numerous records, seemed his best self when going all the way in an eight-and-a-quarter-length romp. The gelding stopped the clock on the Preferred in 1:51.3.

SHARK WEEK REPLAY

As usual, Mike Hennessy drove the gelding for trainer Rodney Hennessy. The six-year-old is won 43 of 78 lifetime starts and has racked up $363,975. He became the first horse to break 1:50 in Western Canada history when he won in 1:49.2 at Century Downs. He holds the all-time records at both Century locations. Rodney Hennessy co-owns the gelding with Lorne Duffield.

Century Downs is set to continue racing on Friday, Jul. 19.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink