By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
Dexter Dunn’s incredible year in North America has just gone next level.
The 10-time former Kiwi champion set a new Breeders Crown record at the Meadowlands in New Jersey over the weekend and in the process become the first driver in North America to win more than $15m in 2024.
Over the weekend Dunn was at his best in the Breeders Crown series. There were 12 races at The Big M with Dunn taking out half of them. That beat the previous record of five set by David Miller at Woodbine in Toronto in 2015.
He started with two wins on Friday before four more on Saturday, including the $400,000 Mare Pace with Twin B Joe Fresh in 1:49, a horse Dunn part owns along with trainer and fellow ex-pat Kiwi Chris Ryder. Twin B Joe Fresh has won 10 from 12 starts this year and is ranked the top horse in the USA.
“It’s a thrill,” Dunn told the US Trotting Association, “not in my wildest dreams did I think that this weekend would happen when I moved over here. I’ve had so much support, so many good horses to drive. It’s just been a great ride.”
Dunn, a four-time US Driver of the Year, has now won 21 Breeders Crown events.
Dexter Dunn’s Breeders Crown wins at the Meadowlands, October 25 and 26 :
Miki and Minnie (2YO female pacer)
Maryland (2YO male trotter)
My Girl EJ (3YO female pacer)
Mirage Hanover (3YO male pacer)
Winner’s Bet (4YO male trotter)
Twin B Joe Fresh (4YO female pacer)
In terms of winners Dunn’s 283 this year puts him 23rd over all, with Aaron Merriman at the top with 700 wins for the year!
But in the money stakes Dunn is way out front.
Dunn, who moved to the US in 2018, is the highest earning driver in North America this year with stakes of $15,030,026. He has accrued nearly $2m more than his closest rival, Yannick Gingras ($13.1m).
Dexter Dunn’s stats for 2024 :
Starts : 1295
Wins : 283
Placings : 370
Earnings : $US15,030,026
UDRS (strike-rate) : 0.346
