Off the 6-5 favourite, Shark Week delivered a coast-to-coast performance in taking the $45,100 Alberta Marksman Final on Sunday (June 27) at Century Downs.
Driver Michael Hennessy cleared command with Shark Week while Dragon Energy landed in the pocket from the second tier to a :27.2 first quarter. They remained one-two through a :57.1 half and 1:25.1 three-quarters before Shark Week scooted three lengths clear off the final turn. Dragon Energy gave futile chase to the 3-year-old Vertical Horizon colt through the stretch, settling for second in the 1:53.1 mile by 2 1/2 lengths. Codename Cigar Box finished third another two lengths back.
Co-owned by trainer Rod Hennessy with Lorne Duffield, Shark Week won his fifth race from eight starts, earning $62,680. He paid $4.30 to win.
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With a mid-race brush to the top on a windy afternoon, Dontpokethedragon left the competition in his wake to romp in the $8,100 Open Pace on opening day at Century Downs Tuesday (May 18).
Dontpokethedragon landed in third from post 2 off the wings while 9-5 favourite Just A Start dueled with Outlaw Gunsablazin for the lead by a :27.3 opening quarter. As the tempo cooled, driver Dave Kelly hustled Dontpokethedragon out of third and to the point past a :57.3 half.
Kelly then quickened the pace into the backstretch while Just A Start and Outlawgunsablazin tired, forcing the backfield around them while Dontpokethedragon coasted by three-quarters in 1:26.1. With his margin widening around the final turn, Dontpokethedragon continued to grow his lead to the beam, hitting the finish of a 1:58.2 mile 11-and-a-quarter lengths in front of second-place finisher Armycaptin Hanover. I Ama Rocket closed for third.