Woodbine Mohawk Park: Dunn hopes to keep flying high into Crown elims
There will be over $6 million in purses up for grabs in the Breeders Crown finals at Woodbine Mohawk Park over the next weekend (10/25 & 26). Driver Dexter Dunn, who is rapidly approaching the $10 million mark in earnings for horses he’s driven this year, hopes to gain entry into those rich finals with a host of talented horses he’ll drive this Friday and Saturday in Breeders Crown elimination races.
Dunn, who has given nothing but credit to the connections that have employed his services this year, is perhaps as surprised as any with his 2019 statistics. “I’d say the odds were 200-1,” Dunn said replying to the question what he thought the chances of reaching the $10 million plateau was at the beginning of the year. “It’s definitely made a difference when you can campaign a horse like Bettor’s Wish.”
While Bettor’s Wish has been the catalyst, Dunn has picked up the drives for many leading stables and has delivered on many fronts. In advance of this year’s Crown, Dunn was at Woodbine Mohawk Park last Saturday night where he captured three Ontario Super Finals on the card.
Dunn kicks off his weekend at Mohawk with Shishito (post 2) in the first of two trials for juvenile trotting fillies. “She’s a nice filly. She was good in the Pennsylvania Championship (3rd) and was solid both weeks in Kentucky,” Dunn said. Shishito needs a top-five finish to advance to the final.
Dunn chose Amigo Volo (post 3) over the Ontario Super Final champion Moon Bridge in the sole elimination for 2-year-old male trotters. “He’s a lovely 2-year-old,” Dunn said of the son of Father Patrick who captured back-to-back Grand Circuit events at The Red Mile. Though Amigo Volo broke in one of those events, he recovered quickly and won in a career best 1:52 3/5 clocking. “He just lost his focus,” Dunn said.
Peaky Sneaky (post 2) is Dunn’s mount in the first of three Crown trials for juvenile pacing fillies. He guided her to a 1:50 3/5 record at The Red Mile in her last stakes appearance. “She grinded nicely after she lost her cover,” said Dunn of the win. Peaky Sneaky will need to be at her best in a very tough seven-filly division that includes Indiana-based star Priceless (post 5).
Alexa Skye (post 4) will need some racing luck for Dunn facing Ontario champion Alicorn (post 5) as well as late-bloomer New Year (post 2) in the second filly pace.
Dunn also picks up the drive behind Marloe Hanover (post 3) for the first time in the third elimination, and though the Captaintreacherous-sired filly is a Grand Circuit winner, she’ll be up against the top-rated filly in North America Lyons Sentinel (post 6), who captured the She’s A Great Lady here in September.
Dunn has liked Major Betts (post 9) since the beginning. “He won for me in (1):51 and change at The Meadowlands and was in-hand doing it,” said Dunn. Major Betts was a surprise winner to others in 1:49 1/5 at The Red Mile in his last start. With eight of the 10 in this elimination field making the final, Dunn feels confident. “It’s going to be hard to put him on the lead from this spot but I think he’ll be fine.” Inside of Major Betts will be the undefeated Tall Dark Stranger (post 4) and Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion Papi Rob Hanover (post 6).
On Saturday night Dunn is hoping that Millies Possesion will regain her top form for trainer Jim Campbell in the second of two Crown eliminations for sophomore trotting fillies. “She wasn’t herself in that last start,” Dunn said. “I’m sure Jim (Campbell) will have her good again.” Millies Possesion landed post three in a field that includes Hambo Oaks champion When Dovescry (post 2) and Kentucky Filly Futurity winner Beautiful Sin (post 8).
Soul Strong (post 6) is Dunn’s mount in the single elimination for sophomore male trotters. “He’s a real talented horse,” said Dunn. “We had post 10 in the Hambletonian and he finished a solid fourth. He had post 10 again in the Futurity and we were like seven wide into the first turn and four wide on the last turn, and he was strong to the wire.” While division leader Greenshoe and Hambo champion Forbidden Trade took byes into the final, Dunn doesn’t think Soul Strong is that far removed in talent from the top pair.
Dunn will guide Manchego in one of two eliminations for older trotting mares from post eight. “She’s proven herself in the last two starts,” Dunn said of the spectacular daughter of Muscle Hill who trotted in 1:49 in capturing the Allerage Farm final at The Red Mile.
Dunn has two sophomore pacing colts to drive in a pair of eliminations with Dancin Lou (post 3) in the first and division leader Bettor’s Wish (post 1) in the second. “I was a little surprised,” said Dunn of Dancin Lou’s upset victory over Southwind Ozzi in a Tattersalls division. “He’s a nice colt.” Dancin Lou meets supplemental entry Century Farroh (post 1) and North America Cup winner Captain Crunch (post 2) in this division.
Dunn would hope for an easy trip with Bettor’s Wish in the second elimination but at the same time recognizes the value of a win. “A win assures you a post inside five,” said Dunn. With 11 wins in 15 starts this year, Bettor’s Wish will be the favorite but must deal with supplement Southwind Ozzi (post 3) who has captured the Little Brown Jug and The Adios en route to nine wins in 12 starts this year.
The action at Woodbine Mohawk Park kicks off at 7:50 PM on Friday and 7:10 on Saturday.