Shark Week untouchable again

Shark Week (Vertical Horizon), returning after four weeks away, made it 23 wins in his past 24 stats at the top overnight harness racing level of Alberta as he romped in the Preferred-Handicap at Century Mile on Saturday (Sep. 28).

The gelding rolled to a :27 opening panel, separating from his opponents by four lengths. He put up middle fractions of :55.4 and 1:24.1 with no one daring to challenge the fastest horse in Western Canada history. Driver Mike Hennessy put him to a light drive down the stretch, and Shark Week cruised to a four-and-a-quarter-length victory in 1:52.1. Samba Beat (Phil Giesbrecht) was a clear second best with Blast Of Sunshine (Jamie Gray) more than seven lengths further back in third.

SHARK WEEK REPLAY

Shark Week, the all-age record holder at both Century Casinos locations, is now 48-for-83 lifetime with $407,725 in earnings. He became the first horse to break 1:50 in Western Canada last year when he won in 1:49.2 at Century Downs in the midst of his 17-race winning streak. The gelding went unbeaten from May 2023 to March 2024 and has won six straight since the defeat that ended the streak. Rodney Hennessy trains the six-year-old and co-owns him with Lorne Duffield.

Nathan Sobey trained five winners on the 12-dash card, driving four of them. His wins came with Hands Off Harry (All Bets Off), who broke his maiden in 1:56.3, Nevada Dragon (Custard The Dragon, Dave Kelly, 1:56.3), Amped Up Annie (Vertical Horizon, 1:56.4), Opulent Dragon (Custard The Dragon, 1:55.2), and Matts A Mystician (Mystician, 1:55.1).

Century Mile will be back in action on Friday, Oct. 4.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink