Superstar Kiwi reinsman Dexter Dunn’s time in North America this year just keeps getting better.
The 10-time New Zealand champion sealed a spot in North America’s richest two-year-old year race, the Mohawk Million after piloting Winners Bet to victory in the $665,000 William Wellwood Memorial.
The Mohawk Million is a slot race with nine spots purchased for $US100,000 with the final place given to the winner of the William Wellwood Memorial.
A $200,000 purchase at the Lexington Select Sale in 2021, Winners Bet wore down his stablemate International Man, for a three-quarter length win in a time of 1:54.1.
On September 24, Dunn and Winners Bet will follow in the footsteps of Haras des Trotteurs’ latest stallion acquisition On A Streak, who won the William Wellwood last year, before finishing third in the Mohawk Million behind the Love You colt Venerate.
The William Wellwood has long been a stallion making race in Canada, with the likes of Andover Hall, Malabar Man, and more recently Father Patrick and Pastor Stephen all graduating to stallion ranks through this rich Canadian classic.
The William Wellwood Memorial is in named in honour of Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Famer, William Wellwood and was formerly run as Campbellville Stakes until 2005.
Dunn has been on a roll of late, mainly through the efforts of world record holder Bulldog Hanover, who won his ninth race in a row over the weekend.
The combo took out the Canadian Pacing Derby. The time of 1:46.8 tied the Canadian and track record. It was the Bulldog’s 24th win in 32 starts.
Dunn has 203 wins for the year so far, and his stakes earnings of $7.362m has him third behind Tim Tetrick and Jason Bartlett.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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