Shark Week streak up to 15

Shark Week (Vertical Horizon) continued his reign as Western Canada’s undisputed harness racing king as he snapped up his 15th consecutive Preferred-Handicap on Saturday (Dec. 23) at Century Mile.

The five-year-old made it eight straight chartlines filled with 1s as he wired the seven-horse group. Michael Hennessy had him on top with minimal effort in a :27.2 first quarter, rated him to the half in :55.4, and gave him a breather to three-quarters in 1:25.1 before No Collusion (Brandon Campbell) went first-up to bring him a challenge. Shark Week allowed the foe no closer than his wheeldisc and motored home to score by a length-and-a-half in 1:52.3. No Collusion prevailed over Icy Blue Scooter (Nathan Sobey) in a stretch duel for place.

SHARK WEEK REPLAY

Shark Week has not lost since April. The gelding, in his 15 straight wins, has set overall track records at Century Mile and Century Downs and became the first horse in Western Canada to ever break 1:50 on Jun. 3. Rodney Hennessy trains him and partners in ownership with Lorne Duffield of Edmonton. The five-year-old tallied his 40th lifetime victory with the Saturday performance and has now earned $341,475 in 74 starts.

Century Mile will close out the year with a New Year’s Eve card beginning at 6:15 p.m. MST.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink