Harness: Dunn takes aim at Hoosier, Northfield stakes victories

Top driver Dexter Dunn will be on the move this weekend and in the sulky behind a pair of contenders in Friday's $300,000 Dan Patch at Harrah's Hoosier Park and then on Saturday in the $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial at MGM Northfield Park. Dunn, who hardly takes a back seat to any driver in North America, finds himself in the second tier in both races, with Sabonis in Friday's Dan Patch and Twisted Destiny in the Milstein.

For Dunn, who has spent the early part of the week racing at The Red Mile in Kentucky stakes action and then traveled to Harrah's Philadelphia for Thursday (August 7) afternoon Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, the frequent trips will be a regular habit through the fall.

"I'll be in Kentucky for four days," Dunn said as he's committed to The Red Mile's program on Sunday through Wednesday. "I hope to get a day off in here and there."

Dunn is in demand and he doesn't shy away from a chance at sitting behind a quality horse. "I can't complain. I get to drive a lot of very nice horses," Dunn said.

On Friday one of those nice horses will be Sabonis, who was invited to return to what must be considered his home track for the Dan Patch. Sabonis, an Indiana-bred son of Tellitlikeitis, won 16 times in 18 starts as a sophomore last year, with 15 of those wins coming over the Harrah's Hoosier Park surface. Sabonis' lone win outside Harrah's Hoosier Park came in the Milstein a year ago at MGM Northfield Park.

► Watch the Dan Patch card at Hoosier Park live on DRF

Dunn has driven Sabonis to his biggest win of the season, a 1:47 3/5 effort in the Graduate Series final at the Meadowlands on July 5. Since then, there have been three third-place finishes following overland journeys.

"He raced well last week," said Dunn of the finish in the Sam McKee Memorial at the Meadowlands on Hambletonian Day. Dunn hopes that reuniting the horse with Harrah's Hoosier Park will aid in his chances.

The Dan Patch goes as race 13 on Friday's Harrah's Hoosier Park card and has a field of 11 with two racing from the second tier. Little Rocket Man (post two) loves this surface, perhaps even more than Sabonis, as his four consecutive Open victories would suggest. A career winner of 76 of his 129 races, Little Rocket Man races in his fourth Dan Patch and is looking for his first win.

Desperate Man (post three) is one of two Travis Alexander trainees in the Dan Patch. The $1.7 million career earner was just nipped in the Joe Gerrity Memorial on July 19 at Saratoga, his last start prior to Friday night's contest. I Did It Myway (post four) takes a big step up for Alexander, coming off consecutive wins.

The deep field for the Dan Patch has some key players on the outside of the starting gate, with Breeders Crown champion Coach Stefanos (post six), McKee Memorial winner Captain Luke (post seven) and the $2.4 million winner Bythemissal starting from post eight.

► Get FREE Harness Eye PPs and watch Northfield Park’s Milstein card LIVE!

Dunn will drive Twisted Destiny, the 5-2 second choice in Saturday's Milstein at MGM Northfield Park. The Chris Ryder-trained son of Bettor's Wish has won six of his eight starts this year, including a pair over the MGM Yonkers Raceway half-mile track in June. Twisted Destiny captured the $200,000 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes final in a 1:51 2/5 mile. When last seen on July 26, Twisted Destiny was on the lead in the Delvin Miller Adios and was out-kicked near the wire by Prince Hal Hanover and Swingtown, losing the $385,000 contest by just a neck. Both Prince Hal Hanover and Swingtown will be in Saturday's lineup for the Milstein, and, unlike Twisted Destiny, will have a spot on the starting gate.

"He's been racing great," said Dunn of Twisted Destiny. "It's going to be tough because Toddy (McCarthy, behind Prince Hal Hanover) drew well."

Prince Hal Hanover enters the Milstein in career form, having taken the Delvin Miller Adios from post eight for McCarthy with blistering speed at both ends of the mile. The Dr. Ian Moore-trained son of Captaintreacherous also crossed the wire first in the Meadowlands Pace only to be set back to second following an infraction. Prince Hal Hanover landed post two in the field of nine.

Swingtown (post six) has regained top form for trainer Ron Burke, and the Ohio-sired son of Downbytheseaside enters the Milstein following a big win in the $145,000 Ohio State Fair Pace last Saturday (August 2) at Eldorado Scioto Downs.

Trainer Noel Daley will send the unbeaten sophomore Smooth Dream to take on Grand Circuit types for the first time in 2025 in the Milstein. The New Jersey-sired son of Cattlewash has dominated at The Meadowlands this year but did venture to Yonkers on one occasion to test his ability over a half-mile track. On July 8 Smooth Dream was an easy winner at Yonkers in 1:52 3/5, opening the door for his Milstein invite. Smooth Dream starts from post four.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

Trainer Ron Burke has a second horse in the Milstein, but Rick Wink must overcome post eight. A son of Bit Of A Legend N, Rick Wink has shown his prowess over the Northfield surface during his two years of racing predominantly in Ohio. A four-time winner over the Northfield half-miler during that period, Rick Wink was a winner last year over the half-mile oval at the Delaware Fairgrounds in a sizzling 1:50 2/5 clocking.

The Milstein goes as race 12 on Saturday's 16-race program with a first post slated at 6:00 p.m. (EDT), while Hoosier's 15-race card kicks off at 5:30 p.m. (EDT).