Adios eliminations could be a Dunn deal
By John Sacco
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
Dexter Dunn is arguably the best harness racing driver in the world.
He is a five-time Dan Patch Driver of the Year.
As great as he is, a victory in the finals of the Meadowlands Pace and Hambletonian has eluded him.
So has a victory in any of the 15 Adios Pace starts he’s made in his career.
The fact is, Dunn’s Adios record shows 15 starts, zero wins, two seconds and two thirds. He has $157,500 in Adios earnings. It’s all un-Dexter Dunn like.
It seems, however, that his Adios fortunes just might start changing Saturday afternoon when he drives Twisted Destiny for trainer Chris Ryder in the first of two elimination races to determine the field for the 59th Adios Pace, which will be contested July 26 at The Meadows.
With the recognized top 3-year-old pacer, Louprint, out of the Grade 1 stakes race because of emergency surgery last week, Twisted Destiny is one of the favorites and one of the hottest pacers having won four of five races this season, including the Messenger Stakes late last month.
“He really hasn’t done anything wrong in his whole career,” Dunn said. “He has a great attitude. This year he’s come back really good. He was great at Yonkers in the Messenger.”
Twisted Destiny will leave from post position 5 in the elimination race. He’ll be challenged by Prince Hal Hanover (Todd McCarthy-Dr. Ian Moore) from post 2, Lite Up The World (James Macdonald-Anthony Beaton) from post 4 and Rick Wink (Chris Page-Ron Burke) from the rail.
Twisted Destiny has earnings of $170,201 and has won six of 10 races in his career with two seconds and lifetime earnings of $237,414.
“It’s a nice bunch of horses here,” Ryder said.
Through the years, The Meadows has humbled some the greatest horses – Nihilator in 1985 and eventual Triple Crown winner Blissful Hall in 1999 to name two.
“First of all, it’s a 5/8-mile track,” Ryder said. “The 5/8-mile tracks tend to give an advantage to horses who are sitting in favorable positions more so than a mile track. I guess what I’m really saying is, I wish all these tracks were mile tracks. I think we’d all be better off on mile tracks. That’s not going to happen.
“I think it’s a driver’s race and I have a good one. He’s very good. Dexter has an uncanny ability to read the other horses. He can read a race and he’s pretty good at getting in the right spot. Nine times out of 10, it comes down to the horse.”
And other times it can be the driver.
Last week, while driving Timeisonmyside in an Open pace for older horses, Dunn drove the horse to a second-place finish. The horse went off at 99-1. Meadows trainer Tim Twaddle gave Dunn credit for having the horse in great position.
Timeisonmyside paid $93 to place and $47 to show.
“I’ve gone against the different generations of drivers: John Campbell, Bill O’Donnell, Herve Filion, and now the next wave and this kid (Dunn) is the best I’ve ever seen,” said Dave Palone, harness racing’s winningest driver. “And he’s the easiest guy to root for in the world. He’s the nicest guy I’ve ever met.
“He is complete aces. I could just hang out and listen to him all day. Dexter is the real deal. He gets along with any kind of horse. No moment is too big for him. I don’t want to jinx him, but I look for him to get it done (soon). Normally, when you give him one of the best horses or the best one, he doesn’t make a mistake.”
Dunn may not have an Adios elimination or Adios final win, but he knows the track and understands that with Louprint out, the door is open.
“At the Meadows, it’s usually a strong first quarter and you really got to go hard and hope it can take you to the end of the mile. It’s not that easy to go and reset there. At the same time, I think you know it can be tough to sustain it all the way through.”