Harness: Dunn reflects on powerful 2020 campaign

Dexter Dunn took time to look back on this past year and his vast accomplishments since arriving in the United States some two and a half years ago. "If I had dreamt about it I don't think I would ever have gotten this far," Dunn said in looking back on a brilliant 2019 campaign that was followed this year by one-third fewer mounts yet nearly as much earnings for those drives.

In ranking his greatest moments of 2020 Dunn topped the charts with the ever-present Bettor's Wish's performance in the TVG at The Meadowlands in November, the final start of his racing career. "That last race was amazing," said Dunn. "He was beating the best older horses by open lengths."

For Dunn the ride with Bettor's Wish that began in early 2019 was one he'll never forget. "I was fortunate to get to drive him last year. I think he was the reason a lot of other owners and trainers got to see me compete in stakes races," said Dunn alluding to the growing horsepower he would capture in 2019 and beyond.

"It was a big thrill for me to see him go out that way," said Dunn. "I think that TVG Mile and his performance at The Red Mile were the high points. You had to love his attitude. He was a true racehorse that never gave up."

Trainer Chris Ryder was instrumental in Dunn’s arrival to drive in North America and Bettor’s Wish helped propel both the pilot and the conditioner to greater heights in 2019 and 2020. Their relationship ushered in 2020's superstar pacing filly Party Girl Hill. "I got to train her a few times for Chris before she started to race," said Dunn, describing the education process required for the Captaintreacherous-sired filly to overcome inexperience and prosper against high-level competition. "I saw that she was the type of filly that could get hot if sent out too quickly," said Dunn. "It didn't take her very long to understand and become a complete racehorse."

Party Girl Hill ranked second in Dunn's 2020's greatest moments as the sophomore pacing filly won 15 of 16 starts in an epic season. For Dunn the defeat in the Breeders Crown was something he has looked at in the rearview mirror a couple of times to see if he could have driven the filly differently. "Maybe if I had pushed the pace a little more in the early stages," said Dunn. "She was so great in the Crown elimination that I expected it to carry over. At the head of the stretch (final) I sensed she wasn't the same, but she still finished out strongly.”

In spite of Party Girl Hill's only defeat in the Breeders Crown the driver cited both Breeders Crown nights and the TVG Finals performances as third best on his greatest moments list of 2020.

"To see Manchego go out that way was really something special," said Dunn of the gifted 5-year-old trotting mare who captured the TVG Final. "She'd been through so much over the last couple of years." Other winners for Dunn on TVG Night included Kissin In The Sand and the aforementioned Bettor's Wish. Dunn also captured the Governor's Cup with the 2-year-old colt Always A Miki for his fourth stakes win on November 21.

Three weeks earlier Dunn took home four Breeders Crowns with Kissin In The Sand, Manchego, Fire Start Hanover and Amigo Volo capturing the prestigious titles.

"Amigo Volo was just incredible through the end of the season," Dunn said of the son of Father Patrick that would go on to finish his campaign with a world-record performance in the Matron at Dover Downs with Dunn at the lines. The Nifty Norman-trained gelding won seven of his last eight starts in 2020 with Dunn at the controls including that 1:50 2/5 Matron sparkler in November.

Dunn was quick to credit all of the owners and trainers who put him down to drive this year and recognized the importance. "I've been very fortunate to get to drive so many great horses. I'm grateful for the support," said Dunn.

The year 2021 is right around the corner and Dunn is likely to be the regular pilot behind the returning Party Girl Hill and Amigo Volo. With stakes season still far down the road the next few months will see Dunn take on a more abbreviated calendar. "I'm going to follow the same schedule I did last year," said Dunn. "I'm going to drive on Wednesdays and Thursdays at Dover Downs and then on Friday and Saturday nights at The Meadowlands."

With the horses Dunn drove in 2020 earning in excess of $11 million during a Covid-19-shortened campaign it's hard to fathom just how high those numbers could have reached had he been able to drive just once in Ontario this year. Still Dunn remains inordinately humble and credits the caliber of horse he's driven for much of his success.