Woodbine Mohawk Park: Bettor's Wish, Dancin Lou polish off Dunn's dominance

To cap off his memorable six-win Saturday night, Dexter Dunn added victories in both C$32,500 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace eliminations, piloting Dancin Lou and Bettor's Wish home first.

Bettor's Wish raced in the second elimination, and he would let Can't Beach That (David Miller) clear passing the 27 1/5 opening quarter. That pocket position then became a three-hole as Brian Sears brought Southwind Ozzi to the outside from the third position, and he made front well before the 56 3/5 half-mile marker.

Dunn would vacate the cones with Bettor's Wish past the half, and he would gain steadily around the final bend on the outside, getting to within three-quarters of a length of Southwind Ozzi at the 1:24 2/5 three-quarters. Bettor's Wish then put Southwind Ozzi away in the lane and went on to prevail by a length and a half in 1:51. Southwind Ozzi held on for second, with Covered Bridge (James MacDonald) rallying for third. Also advancing to the final were De Los Cielos Deo (Yannick Gingras) and Bronx Seelster (Simon Allard).

“You can’t help but love him,” Dunn said of Bettor's Wish after the race. “He’s such a cool horse. He’s had a great year and I think tonight was probably the best he’s actually felt post parading and that. I’ve given him some pretty hard runs too the poor wee fella, and he just keeps bouncing back. It’s a credit to Chris [Ryder] and the team for the job they do—he’s just sublime.”

Ryder also co-owns Bettor's Wish, a Bettor's Delight colt, with partners Bella Racing Ltd., Fair Island Farm Inc., and Bettor's Wish Partners. This was Bettor's Wish's 17th career win, and he has now earned C$1,713,182. The 1-2 favorite, he paid $3.00 to win.

“Coming into this week [he] had two good weeks in Kentucky and after that I thought ‘Well, it’s my job that he’s not messed up this week,’” Ryder said after the race. “I just kept my fingers crossed for another week. It’s been a great year…I just love having him; he’s a beautiful horse. We actually had a bit of a hiccup with a foot this week but it came right and he’s an easy keeper.”

Back in the first elimination Dunn and Dancin Lou got away in the fourth position and watched as Stag Party (Doug McNair) blasted out from post seven to cut a 26 1/5 opening quarter. Stag Party would then be passed by a pocket-pulling Captain Crunch (Scott Zeron), and he would overtaken passing the 55 4/5 half by Century Farroh.

Century Farroh hooked up in a duel with a first-over Air Force Hanover (Allard) around the far turn and to the 1:23 2/5 three-quarters, with Captain Crunch sliding out two-wide to follow the cover. Meanwhile, Dunn and Dancin Lou had remained on the inside into the lane.

In the stretch the race looked wide-open as horses began to close in on the battling leaders, but suddenly in the last eighth Dancin Lou turned it into a runaway as he found a breach up the pylons and drew off to win by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:50 1/5. Meadowlands Pace champion Best In Show (Bob McClure) rallied from eighth to second in the final quarter, and Captain Crunch held third. Fixed Idea (Randy Waples) and Semi Tough (Matt Kakaley) also moved on to the final.

“[The trip] worked out pretty good really,” Dunn said after the race. “There was a bit of action in that race. He was really good last out at Lexington but he was better tonight. We took our shot, took a bit of luck and he got around the inside there and really exploded.”

Dancin Lou is a Sweet Lou colt trained by Tahnee Camilleri for owners David Kryway and 1362313 Ontario Ltd. Dancin Lou made his 11th appearance in the winner's circle, pushed his bankroll to C$284,756, and returned $12.20 to win as a 5-1 offering.

“That was a really good field tonight—I’m just so proud of that little colt,” said Camilleri, who made the decision to try Dancin Lou in the Breeders Crown after his win at Lexington two weeks ago. “I’m very thankful it’s panned out so far with the owners. I haven’t come from a racing background and it’s just been a uphill struggle to get recognized. To have a horse like this is great for my career and I’m very thankful the owners gave me a shot.”

The final will be drawn at a press conference on Tuesday.

--quotes courtesy of the Hambletonian Society--