Shark Week defeated after 17 straight

Shark Week’s 17-race, 11-month unbeaten streak at Alberta’s top level of harness racing ended on Saturday (Apr. 27) at Century Downs as Bonus Round (Santanna Blue Chip) caught him in the $25,000 Preferred.

Shark Week, the fastest horse in Western Canada history, went to the front as usual for Mike Hennessy and headed the field through first-half splits of :26.1 and :56.1. Carro B Bunsen (Logan Gillis) pulled first-up on him coming down the backstretch and pressured the leader to three-quarters in 1:24.3.

Shark Week repelled that challenge but was unable to shake the field, entering the stretch with a length-and-a-half on pocket-sitter Samba Beat (Phil Giesbrecht) and Bonus Round (Dave Kelly) coming off second-over cover. Bonus Round carried his momentum coming down the lane and soared by the West Coast king to score a length-and-a-quarter victory at 12-1.

Samba Beat also passed Shark Week for place, putting the latter gelding third in his first loss since May 2023.

BONUS ROUND REPLAY

Bonus Round entered the race in sharp form, coming off a Preferred win a week prior in Shark Week’s absence. Kelly conditions Bonus Round for Pick 6 Stable of Strathmore. The six-year-old is now 15-for-77 lifetime with $148,510 in earnings.

Shark Week had won 17 straight Preferred-level races at Century Downs and Century Mile. The streak started on May 6, 2023 and saw the six-year-old break the overall record at both tracks and become the first horse to break 1:50 in Western Canada history. The Rodney Hennessy-trained gelding has won 42 of 77 lifetime appearances and has earned $357,725. His Saturday loss was also the first time in 12 races he recorded anything but a “1” in his chartlines.

The card also saw the eliminations for the Ed Tracey Memorial for four-year-old horses and geldings. Yru So Sirius (Captive Audience, Kelly, 1:56.1) took the first split by four-and-a-quarter lengths over Opulent Dragon (Nathan Sobey) and Smokn Joe (Giesbrecht). Kelly trains the winner and co-owns the stallion with Mike Dicks and Richard McPhee.

YRU SO SIRIUS REPLAY

Up Yer Kilt (Mystician, Mike Hennessy) topped the second group, sweeping three-wide to victory in 1:56. He was three-and-a-quarter lengths clear of Panda Beer (Kelly), who was followed by Jus Ched (Gillis). Up Yer Kilt is trained by Rodney Hennessy, who co-owns him with Diane Hennessy.

UP YER KILT REPLAY

The $30,000 final of the Ed Tracey Memorial is set for May 4 at Century Downs.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink