Five for Hennessy

Harness racing driver Michael Henessy topped the Saturday (Dec. 16) Century Mile card with five winners earned through a variety of trips.

The reinsman kicked the card off with an easy victory behind Cenalta Token (Mystery Chase), who crushed her rivals by seven-and-a-quarter lengths in 1:57.3. It was her third lifetime in 38 starts and was good for a new career mark.

CENALTA TOKEN REPLAY

Hennessy doubled up immediately as he rallied Tropical Dragon (Custard The Dragon) from last of all horses in contention on the turn to win by a neck. It was the six-year-old gelding’s 10th win of the season and his first for trainer Travis Ellis and owner Trevor Williams, who claimed him last week.

TROPICAL DRAGON REPLAY

Carro Nouveau (Outrageous Art) upset at 12-1 to become Hennessy’s third winner, picking up the pieces after the leader broke in the stretch. The three-year-old held on by a half-length after a late-stretch battle with Fall Out Girl (Phil Giesbrecht) for the 1:58.4 win.

CARRO NOUVEAU REPLAY

Hennessy completed the card by double-bookending it, taking the final two races. He got Western Canada Pacing Derby winner Blue Star Mercury (Mystician) up by a head on the outside after starting seventh in the ninth. The gelding, trained by Rodney Hennessy, has won six of 24 starts as a three-year-old rookie.

BLUE STAR MERCURY REPLAY

The finale was, fittingly, the showstopper, as Maching Millions (Andreoli Hanover) got her nose in front in a four-horse photo for win. She dueled the parked-out Ak Black Badger from the half, and they were joined by Tina La Vida (Tyler Redwood) and Outlawkissmyclass (Logan Gillis) in deep-stretch. The latter two converged on the leaders in the final strides, and Maching Millions held on for the victory. Tina La Vida missed by inches but beat out Outlawkissmyclass and Ak Black Badger, who was fourth in a valiant effort.

MACHING MILLIONS REPLAY

The Manitoba-sired Maching Millions won the Lady Crocus at The Loop this season and is eight-for-29 lifetime. She races for Manitoban connections: Ellis trains the sophomore for Adam Mace and Timothy Spruce.

Hennessy, the driver of the record-breaking Shark Week, is striking at an 18.7 per cent rate this season. He sits third in the Century Mile drivers’ standings.

Century Mile will see racing next on Saturday, Dec. 23.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink