Virtual Horizon streak reaches 12 in ABSS elim

Alberta powerhouse Virtual Horizon (Vertical Horizon) added a 12th victory to his undefeated harness racing season in the first Alberta Sires Stakes Plainsmen elimination on Saturday (Sep. 23) at Century Mile.

He authoritatively seized command, utilizing his inside draw, and led his sophomore pacing rivals around the oval. Brandon Campbell guided him to fractions of :29 and :59, and he let him roll to a 1:27.3 three-quarters to open up by four lengths. No rival was able to challenge as Virtual Horizon soared hom to a two-and-a-quarter-length victory in 1:55.2. Blue Star Mercury (Michael Hennessy) was the only horse near him at the finish. Opulent Dragon (Nathan Sobey) finished third.

VIRTUAL HORIZON REPLAY

Virtual Horizon is unbeaten in 12 starts at three, including four stakes finals, and is 15-for-19 lifetime. Campbell conditions the colt, whose career earnings raised to $290,713 with the win, for Jodi Loftus, George Rogers, and Raymond Henry of Calgary.

Up Yer Kilt (Mystician, Hennessy, 1:57.2) reached up by a head for a mild upset at 5-1 in the second elimination. He squeaked past The Dickens (Phil Giesbrecht), who finished second, and was clear of show finisher Mister Moose (Jamie Gray). Over The Horizon (Vertical Horizon, Sobey, 1:55.2) out-sprinted General Custard (David Kelly) to take the third elimination with Tin Can Timmy (Logan Gillis) completing the triactor.

UP YER KILT REPLAY

In other ABSS action, Outlawguns N Roses (Captive Audience, Kelly) broke the track record for a two-year-old filly in a blowout win in the ABSS Starlet second division. She popped the pocket on the backstretch, circled the leader, and bottomed out the field in the back half. The Rodney Starkewski-trained filly stopped the clock in 1:53.2. Born A Spy (Giesbrecht) was best of the rest and climbed from seventh to second. Delta Sunrise (Logan Gillis) was third. The winner has tallied three times in six starts, including the ASHA Filly Pace. Rodney Starkewski trains the filly and shares ownership with Clauzette Byckal of Onoway.

OUTLAWGUNS N ROSES REPLAY

Byby Baby Byby (Vertical Horizon, Hennessy) won the first division comfortably, cruising home to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths after taking the lead at three-quarters. Lumby Dragon (Giesbrecht) paced a strong mile to finish second. Early pacesetter Severe Turbulence (Campbell) was third. It was Byby Baby Byby’s Alberta Sires Stakes debut and her second career victory in four starts. Rodney Hennessy trains her for owner/breeders Bryan Brook of Leduc and Diane Hennessy of Strathmore.

BYBY BABY BYBY REPLAY

The card also featured two eliminations each for the Alberta Sires Stakes Rising Star and Princess events for two-year-old pacing males and three-year-old pacing fillies, respectively. Grey Horizon (Vertical Horizon, Campbell, 1:58.1) dominated with a 14-and-a-quarter-length romp in the first Rising Star elimination. Hf Winkat Shadows (Dave Chappell) held off One More Rocky (Hennessy) for place, and Nevada Dragon (Sobey) was just behind them in third. Come On Santana (Santanna Blue Chip, Gray, 1:58) was another comfortable winner in the second elim, cruising to victory by three-and-a-half lengths. Tzilacatzin (Chris Brown) beat Sharkasaurus (Hennessy) for place. Matteuse (Sobey) was a clear fourth.

As favourites romped in the Rising Star groups, longshots won photo finishes in the Princess. Riskofthunderstorm (Captive Audience, Kelly, 1:57.2) cut the mile at 22-1 and gutted out a tough stretch drive for the first elimination victory. Dear John Im Gone (Campbell) charged late from the pocket but missed by a neck. My Little Chloe (Tyler Miller) finished third, and Outlaw Encore (Jean-Francois Gagne) was promoted to fourth as the judges placed back heavy favourite Caviar N Crackers (Giesbrecht). You Promyst (Mystician, Gagne, 1:54.4) sprung an even bigger upset in the second elimination. She nailed ABSS stalwart G Ts Skyla (Gillis) under the wire to win by a head. Beep Bop A Lula (Dave Kelly) was third-best, and Outlawabovenbeyond (Giesbrecht) secured the fourth spot.

Shark Week (Vertical Horizon) provided another spectacle on the stacked program as the West Coast star increased his winning streak to double digits and his earnings past $300,000. The five-year-old, who tied the track record for an aged pacer in his previous start, went wire-to-wire again and scored by a length-and-a-quarter over Samba Beat (Giesbrecht) in 1:52.3. Michael Hennessy took the lines as usual for trainer Rodney Hennessy. Shark Week’s has now won 35 races in 69 outings and has earned $306,475 for owners Rodney Hennessy and Lorne Duffield.

SHARK WEEK REPLAY

Century Mile will return to action on Friday, Sep. 29.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink