It was a day of highs and ultimate lows for the Travis Cullen stable at Alberta Downs on Saturday as the horsemen went from sitting aboard his promising three-year-old pacing filly Justapassin Fanci for a victory before seeing her pass away after the race.
Justapassin Fanci and Cullen romped to a three-length triumph in 1:55.3 in the seventh race. However, while making her way to the winner's circle, the daughter of Stonebridge Regal dropped to the track. Cullen told Trot Insider that she suffered a heart attack and died.
"She was a very nice three-year-old filly and potential to be the best filly in Alberta the way she was racing since I got her," said Cullen. "I really liked her."
Justapassin Fancy was owned by breeders Kurt and Kathy Schmidt along with partners Peter Mikolajczyk and Michelle Winter. She earned four of her six wins this year since joining Cullen's stable in early August and had seven wins in 24 lifetime starts for a bankroll of $33,986.
At the start of the race, Emmasphere, making her debut from Cullen's stable, was involved in an incident when she broke stride and hooked wheels with A Special Lady. Emmasphere was escorted back to the paddock and Cullen confirmed that she walked away without serious injuries. Philip Giesbrecht was up on his feet quickly after being dumped from the sulky and completed his remaining drives.
Earlier in the day, Cullen, Canada's 2013 Future Star Award winner, had won the second race with Mach Away and he later captured the ninth race with Open pacing mare Feelin Flush in a photo finish over Blue Star Beauty, with her stablemate Sing Like An Angel third.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Justapassin Fanci.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Alberta Downs.