Dunn wins half the program

Dexter Dunn’s starred at the Meadowlands, with his fourth haul of seven race wins on the one night.

On Friday night the 31-year-old Kiwi driver took out more than half the 13-race programme. It’s the third time he has won seven races on the same card at the Big M. He also won seven races at Forbury Park in May 2015.

“I knew I had some chances,” Dunn told the US Trotting Association, “They just worked out and got nice trips. I just think I had the right stock on the right night.”

It was the second time in six weeks that he’s achieved the feat and the third overall at the Meadowlands. The first was in January 2020, the second on June 18 this year.

“It’s awesome for sure,” he said, “I’m driving for the top trainers, driving good horses. It makes my job easy.”

The winning trainers were ex-pat Kiwis Nifty Norman (2), Chris Ryder (1) as well as Nancy Takter (2) and Tony Alagna (2).

Dunn now has 114 at the Big M in New Jersey this year, 31 more than his closest rival Yannick Gingras.

His total is 254 wins for the year, that’s ninth overall, with earnings now exceeding $4m ($4,097,749).

That puts him third behind Tim Tetrick ($4,895,579) and Gingras ($4,240,245).

Only two drivers have had eight winners on a card at the Big M. They were Mike Lachance (1995) and Brett Miller (2016).

Harness Racing New Zealand