Who Doesnt Continues Win Streak

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Published: April 26, 2015 10:00 pm EDT

Trainer/driver Travis Cullen completed a sweep of Century Downs Racetrack and Casino's Open events during the new Calgary, Alberta track's first weekend of harness racing with reigning Alberta Horse of the Year Who Doesnt winning his season's debut on the Sunday afternoon card.

Picking up were he left off last season, Who Doesnt made his 2015 debut a winning one in Sunday's $10,500 Open Pace. The 1:53.3 track record triumph was the pacer's 13th win in a row.

Cullen settled 3-5 favourite Who Doesnt ($3.30) away third through a :28.1 opening quarter and then advanced first up en route to the :57.4 half. Who Doesnt took the lead down the backstretch and reached three-quarters in 1:25.1 with his lead widening. Cullen urged home the streaking pacer in a :28.2 closing quarter to win by a final margin of three and three-quarter lengths. Blue Eyed Cowboy came on for second while Timberline Court edged out early leader Comes Home First back in third.

Who Doesnt won 15 of his 22 races and earned $71,360 during his 2014 award-winning season. Cullen shares ownership of the six-year-old Mach Three gelding with family members Jeanne, Kenneth and Jodie Cullen.

"He had a pretty good trip today and it all worked out for him," Cullen told Trot Insider. "The track must be pretty quick because that was a good mile for his first start back."

Cullen, whose trainees Feelin Flush and Sing Like An Angel had finished 1-2 in the matching Mares Open yesterday, also won three other races on Sunday.

In back-to-back races earlier in the day, three-year-old filly Sportsonthebeach ($7.50) won her Alberta debut in 1:57 after starting her career in Ontario and the 10-year-old Alberta-bred Raging Fingers ($10.40) recovered from a break in stride as he advanced first up to notch his 30th career win in 1:55.2. Fraser Downs shipper Camblazer ($3.60) later won his first start from the Cullen stable in 1:56.2.

"It's a really nice track and it's just going to get better," said Cullen. "The surface has only been on for a week. They had a different surface on for the qualifiers, but they've resurfaced it and I think it's going to be a very fast track, especially in a couple more weeks after the horses get it packed down a little more. It should be a really nice track. It's a very nice facility.

"I'm very happy to get back racing," added Cullen, who currently has 20 horses training in Alberta and a set of two-year-olds training at his parents' farm in Manitoba.

The 22-year-old horseman, who topped the harness racing standings in Alberta the past two years and earned the 2013 Future Star O'Brien Award, has committed to racing in the province and recently purchased a home in Airdrie. He is looking forward to seeing the progression of the new Calgary track as the facility is completed.

"The crowd seemed to be right into the racing, that's for sure," said Cullen of his opening weekend impressions. "They can watch right at the fence now. They all seemed happy and were betting, it was pretty cool."

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Century Downs.

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