On Sunday, Dec. 8, Jodie Cullen sent four horses from her stable out to race at Flamboro Downs, earning one second-place finish and meeting the remainder in the winner's circle.
Trainer Jodie and driver Travis Cullen combined to win three of the nine races on the Sunday night card at Flamboro.
The night began on a high note when the Cullen team captured their first win in race two. The 1-5 favourite Tells Bells dominated the field, leading from start to finish with fractions of :30, 1:01.1, 1:31, and crossing the wire in 2:01. A daughter of A Tellitlikeitis and Endora Hanover, the three-year-old filly scored her third lifetime victory. Tells Bells is owned by A1stable.
The team continued their success in race eight with Wifey Said So, a four-year-old daughter of Sunshine Beach and Sing Like An Angel. Following the helmet of Damian MacLellan and Northern Belle for the majority of the mile, Cullen and Wifey Said So began a quick close on the backside and kept alongside Northern Belle through the last turn. Wifey Said So found extra gear in the stretch, edging ahead to win in 1:59. This win marks her second of the year. Wifey Said So is owned by Keith Hannah, Ronald Cullen, and Travis Cullen.
The third win came in race nine, the Flamboro finale, with Granite Beach, a four-year-old gelding by Sunshine Beach out of April May Dune. Starting from the gate, Granite Beach seized the lead and never relinquished it, setting the pace with splits of :30, 1:01.2, and 1:30.3, finishing strong in 1:59.1. This victory brings Granite Beach’s lifetime win total to nine, pushing his earnings to $40,638. He is owned by Grace Marshman and A1stable.
The leading trainer at Flamboro this year for wins and earnings, Cullen sports 215 wins this season with more than $2.31 million in purses.
Live racing resumes at Flamboro Downs on Wednesday, Dec. 11, with a 6:35 p.m. post.
To view Sunday's racing results at Flamboro Downs, click the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.
(Standardbred Canada, Photo of Granite Beach from a previous win)