The Breeders Crown is one of the biggest events of the year for harness racing in North America and is an event that Dexter Dunn has starred in many times since relocating to the USA. This year at the Woodbine Mohawk Park track in Canda, Dexter has a number of great chances over the two nights of racing.
The Friday night racing (Saturday NZT) will see the running of four of the finals:
The first final is for the two-year-old trotting fillies for $959,000 and will see Dexter partner In Range filly Setyoursightshigh a 7-2 chance in the early markets for Marcus Melander. This filly will need to overcome the outside gate which will be tough, especially with her two most favoured rivals drawn the inside two spots.
Dexter’s next drive will be Apex in the final for the two-year-old trotting colts and geldings. This guy has drawn perfectly in post one and has already tasted success recently on the track in the Mohawk Million. He looks perfectly placed for Dexter and trainer Marcus Melander and is rated a 7-5 chance.
The third and final drive for Dexter will be with the Andrew Harris trained Brandon Blvd a 5-2 chance and drawn perfectly in post two. The son of Downbytheseaside paced to a 1:48.8 new track and Canadian record, in his heat, bettering Sweet Lou’s record set in 2011. This was his 7th victory in just nine starts and he looks well placed to run a cracking race.
The Saturday night action (Sunday NZT) is when the action really ramps up, with a further eight finals.
Dexter kicks off his night driving Date Night Hanover a 4-1 hope for Marcus Melander in the Open Mares trotting final. The mare is coming off a nose win in the Allerage Mare Trot in 1:49.2 on Oct. 5 at The Red Mile. She is unique – from a New Zealand point of view anyway- in that she races without shoes and will probably do so in this event.
Twin B Joe Fresh is Dexter’s pride and joy and starts from the inside in the final for the open pacing mares. She has been back to her very best form in recent starts and looks well placed as a 1-5 favourite to add another big win to her impressive CV.
Stash Some Cash trained by Domenico Cecere placed second in last week’s elimination and is a 6-1 chance also from post one for Dexter in the final for the three-year-old trotting fillies.
Miki and Minnie was super impressive last week equalling a Canadian record when winning her elimination in 1.48.4. Dexter felt that the Chris Ryder trained filly would have improved with last week’s run and looks a great chance in the final for the three-year-old pacing fillies.
Dexter will again partner Super Chapter in the three-year-old trotting final for the colts and geldings. The winner of the Yonkers Trot and second in the Hambletonian, will leave from post two as a 5-2 hope. This should be a cracking final with stablemate Maryland and driver Yannick Gingras from post three and favourite Emoticon Legacy from barrier four.
The Open Trotting final will see Dexter partner 15-1 chance Up Your Deo from post ten for Ake Svanstedt. A quality trotter, the wide post will make things very difficult.
Fusion is a 25-1 hope for ex-pat Kiwi Brett Pelling in the final for the three-year-old colts and geldings. Again, Dexter will need to navigate a path from a very tricky post ten.
The last of the Breeders finals will see Dexter partner with Ervin Hanover, an impressive winner of last week’s elimination. It was a tough effort to get the win last week and he again looms as a serious chance from post five.
It should be a great couple of night’s racing. We wish Dexter all the best with his chances.