Down Under horse people and horses step up again on significant weekend of harness racing.
Friday and Saturday at Hoosier Park in Indiana saw the running of the prestigious Breeders Crown Finals. With 12 finals on show, one for each age, sex and gait, coming with that was $6 million in prize money. To no one’s surprised the star of the whole show was Down Under driver Dexter Dunn and Down Under trainer Nifty Norman had a spectacular night as well.
Starting on Friday, the first night of two, Dunn won 2 races and had 1 placing. Including a Breeders Crown Finals with Down Under trainer Nifty Norman. The trainer/driver combination won the $600,000 2-year-old fillies final with Fire Start Hanover. The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere who just held on to saluted in 1:50.4.
Moving onto night two being the Saturday, Dunn started the night off early with two wins, both with very in form Down Under pacers. Miss You N was the first who won the $67,500 Invitational Jerry Landess Memorial in 1:50.2. Closely followed by Stars Align A who was too sharp in the $69,000 Invitational Phil Langley Memorial in 1:49.2.
Know to the main events of the night. Dunn steered sensation trotting mare Manchego to victory in the $300,000 Open Trotting Mares Final for trainer Nancy Takter. This was a historical win as it made Manchego just the fourth trotter in history to win three or more Breeders Crown Trophies. This being the daughter of Muscle Hills third Breeders Crown victory and set her career stake earnings to over $2.5 million.
Dunns next big win was with Kissin In The Sand in the $300,000 Open Pacing Mares Final in 1:48.4. Leading from the half, not even champion Down Under mare Shartin N who finished 2nd could get close to the high class daughter of Somebeachsomewhere. The win gave trainer Nancy Takter her third Breeders Crown Final of the night, two of which Dexter drove.
Topping off the night was 3yo trotter Amigo Volo winning his second Breeders Crown Final for Down Under pair Nifty Norman and Dexter Dunn. The Father Patrick gelding lead throughout and just held on to win in a time of 1:53.0. Nifty Norman also trained the 3rd placegetter in the race of Chestnut Hill who was driven by David Miller.
Also on the night Down Under trainer Chris Ryder had two placings in Finals. Party Girl Hill placed 3rd in the 3yo Fillies event and Bettors Wish was a close 2nd in the Open Final. Both driven by Dexter Dunn.
Overall one of the most renowned race meetings on the American and Canadian racing calendar Down Under participants made their presence very much felt with 7 wins, 8 placings over the two nights of racing.
