Harness: Dunn is doing well in his North American adventure

He traveled halfway around the world to get to the States. Now driver Dexter Dunn is putting in more roadwork than many in an effort to become the best on these shores. Well at least if you look at Dunn’s travels this past Saturday when he spent the afternoon at The Meadows for a series of drives that culminated in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes victory for Antonia.

With his daytime job complete, Dunn went to The Meadowlands in East Rutherford for some catch-driving work including a victory with the streaking None Bettor A in the first of his three drives in New Jersey on the day.

Dunn took in his third state of the day with a short trip to Yonkers where he led Bettor’s Wish to a victory in a $40,000 Art Rooney prelim, the first of three straight wins on the Yonkers card before his day was complete.

“It was a long day but a very good one,” said Dunn about the first half of his weekend.

Dunn made it just one destination on Sunday and that was Flamboro Downs where he guided Done Well to victory in the prestigious Confederation Cup.

“He was very good the first week (eliminations) and even better on Sunday,” said Dunn earlier this week, fully recovered and ready for more action.

You have to get the call as a catch driver and Dunn gives credit to many of his compatriots for his meteoric rise over the last nine months. “I’ve gotten tremendous support from the Down Under trainers,” Dunn said.

While that is certainly true, Dunn’s placement behind Done Well, and his ability to get the job done when called upon, is a testament to his talent and the fact that North American based trainers have noticed. “(Ron) Burke had like 20 in to qualify at The Meadowlands and Matt Kakaley was committed to Dorsoduro Hanover and Yannick (Gingras) had another,” Dunn said of how he was first approached for the Done Well drive.

While outsiders look at catch-drivers at times as independent contractors that work very little time each day and make plenty of money, the reality for them on a broad scale is success has more to do with the horses you drive than the numbers. For Dunn, getting support from his “Mates” was not a given in spite of his accomplishments. The “what have you done for me?” crowd rarely concerns itself with past accolades and whatever Dunn’s reputation was before he arrived, he’s quickly charted a course as one willing to tackle any track and challenge.

“I’m absolutely way ahead of where I expected to be at this point,” Dunn said. “I’ve been given a lot of quality horses to drive.”

Dunn will be back down to drive on Saturday in the $300,000 final of the Art Rooney behind Bettor’s Wish, but despite the elimination win, the driver wasn’t about to get cocky. “I was very happy with him last week. He’s done everything we’ve asked of him so far,” said Dunn of Bettor’s Wish. “I thought Air Force Hanover was very impressive and I have to think Blood Money will be better.”

While Bettor’s Wish has gained traction in the polls, Dunn would rather let the horse do the talking first. “Those two that won at Pocono on Sunday, Captain Crunch and Workin Ona Mystery, were pretty impressive as well,” Dunn said with full understanding of the depth and talent in the sophomore division that’s just beginning to emerge.

While Dunn never raced in three tracks in three states on the same day and won a race at each Down Under, he really doesn’t find the competition much different in North America. “Everywhere you go it’s the same level of competition,” said Dunn.

Dunn doesn’t have a virtual game plan as yet though he is committed on the most part to racing at The Meadowlands on Friday and Saturday nights and has filled in at Yonkers on Mondays and Tuesdays. This weekend he’ll spend Sunday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia getting back in the sulky behind Tiger Thompson N in the $100,000 Commodore Barry Invitational. The import has won for Dunn the last three times he was the listed driver, including a 1:50 3/5 effort at Harrah’s in a Great Northeast Open event on May 12.

Currently eighth in earnings among all drivers in the U.S., Dunn has taken advantage of the confidence he’s been given by trainers and owners by being in the right place at the right time on all sized tracks and against all levels of competition.

It’s been pretty obvious from the start that Dunn has the poise in the bike necessary to succeed at the highest level and the hands necessary to make speed. He showed that with Done Well in the 4-year-old’s first start of the season. “He was really impressive in that he paced a mile in 1:48 in a mile and an eighth race,” said Dunn, justifying why the son of Well Said may have finished second to Courtly Choice, beaten less than a length in the $50,000 contest.

Pretty much like every other catch-driver, Dunn will find himself in positions later this year where traveling into three states will not be a possibility and he’ll have to commit to one drive or one location. Bettor’s Wish is an Ontario Sire Stakes horse and will likely head north following Saturday race. Chris Ryder trains Bettor’s Wish and was an active supporter of Dunn’s move to North America. Ryder is also training Billy Badger N, an import Dunn owns that up until recently wasn’t enjoying the same success as Dunn was on the racetrack. “My dad was training the horse in New Zealand for one of his big owners,” said Dunn of Billy Badger N. “At first he wasn’t racing as well as expected but Chris found a couple of things that may have been the issues. He’s raced much better the last two starts.”

Dunn appears focused on the driving aspect of the sport and with summer just around the corner, there’s a good chance his credentials could put him in the winner’s circle in some major races.

He’s Done Well so far.