Down Under Winners with Carter Dalgety

Some of the biggest harness racing races of the year lived up to all expectation.

The past weekend saw the running of the Breeders Crown Finals at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

With the $600,000 finals being run on the Friday night and some of Saturday night’s finals reaching purses of $650,000, down under participants were right in the thick of it, something that is becoming a common occurrence in the top races.

Dexter Dunn headed the down under success when driving five winners over the weekend including two breeders crown finals. Andrew McCarthy was also a winner of a Breeders Crown final and Todd McCarthy won two class races over the weekend. Down under trainers Nifty Norman, Chris Ryder and Brett Pelling significantly all won a Breeders Crown final each. 

Dunn firstly teamed up with Chris Ryder to win their first Breeders Crown final as a trainer driver duo. The win came with brilliant 2yo filly Niki Hill. The daughter of Always B Miki has been dominant right throughout the season and Dunn drove her with absolute confidence. Spearing out to the lead from post seven and staying there the whole journey. Running her first half in 54.4 and then putting a big gap on all rivals to cross the wire in a brilliant victory clocking 1:51.0 in the $600,000 final.

The conditions on the night were far from nice with the weather being cold and heavily rain effected. 

Nifty Norman then sent Dunn out on brilliant trotting filly Bella Bellini. The Bar Hopping daughter trotted in bold fashion when leaving the starting gate of 3. They made their way to the front before handing over to race favourite Altar. Remaining in that order throughout turning into the stretch Bella Bellini had a fight on her hands. Altar had a kick but then moments later went off stride to leave Bella Bellini clear in the final stages to win the $650,000 in 1:53.0 trotting. In second place was the down under pair of Noel Daley and Andrew McCarthy who had Anoka Hanover. 

The following race Andrew McCarthy reversed the placings with him finishing first and Dunn being runner up. Andrew McCarthy was aboard the Greg Wright Jr trained Jujubee. A hot favourite in the $650,000 3yo trotting final for colts and geldings. Top end tactics were adopted with McCarthy leading from gate 6 and staying there right to the wire, despite challenges. The son of Creatine clocked a time of 1:51.2.

Brett Pellings Breeders Crown victory came with outstanding 3yo pacing filly Test Of Faith. Driven by David Miller the daughter of Art Major came from off the pace to win in crushing fashion. The $600,000 victory was clocked in 1:49.4.

There were also two down under trio victory’s over the weekend. One with Let It Ride N and the team of Dunn and Norman. Let It Ride N looked at his best winning a $28,000 Pace in 1:49.2. Down under pacer Shoobee Doo A challenged hard and finished second and Im A Gigolo N finished in 4th.

The next was Hail Christian N. Being handled by Todd McCarthy and trained by Brett Pelling the entire made his way into North America from Canada to win in a tight finish of 1:52.2.

Tuesday 26th October

Bangor Raceway ME

Chumlee A – Time: 1:56.4, Stake: $4,250

Fernleigh Rebel N – Time: 1:56.4, Stake: $4,500

Monticello Raceway NY

Pocket Watch N – Time: 1:58.0, Stake: $6,600

Nui Ba Den N – Time: 1:56.4, Stake: $7,700

Saratoga Harness NY

Sea Change N – Time: 1:56.2, Stake: $7,000

Wednesday 27th October

Batavia Downs NY

Tuapeka Jessie N – Time: 1:54.3, Stake: $13,500

Harrahs Philipelphia PA

Letsgotobrazil A – Time: 1:52.4, Stake: $7,600

Thursday 28th October

Bangor Raceway ME

Besidetheseaside A – Time: 1:59.1, Stake: $3,750

Bettor Because A – Time: 1:59.4, Stake: $3,500

Plainridge Park MA

Tisadream N – Time: 1:52.1, Stake: $12,500

Kiwi Tintin N – Time: 1:53.3, Stake: $15,000

Yonkers Raceway NY

Golden Quest N – Time: 1:54.1, Stake: $16,000

Shes Pukka N – Time: 1:53.2, Stake: $38,000

Flamboro Downs CA

Hughie Junior N – Time: 1:55.1, Stake: $10,300

Friday 29th October

Freehold Raceway NJ

Madame Leza A – Time: 1:57.0, Stake: $5,000

Milady Denver N – Time: 1:56.1, Stake: $6,300

Harrahs Hoosier Park IN

Ana Afreet N – Time: 1:50.3, Stake: $15,000

A Fair Ol Dance N – Time: 1:49.1, Stake: $17,500

Ourrhythmnblues N – Time: 1:51.0, Stake: $12,500

The Meadows PA

Dream Out Loud N – Time: 1:53.1, Stake: $5,400

Make A Statement A – Time: 1:53.2, Stake: $7,900

Yonkers Raceway NY

Lettuceriprita A – Time: 1:53.1, Stake: $13,500

Saturday 30th October

Bangor Raceway ME

Mighty American N – Time: 1:57.0, Stake: $3,500

Batavia Downs NY

Catcha Lefty A – Time: 1:54.3, Stake: $11,250

Lord Willoughby A – Time: 1:54.3, Stake: $12,100

Raksmach N – Time: 1:53.3, Stake: $10,400

Freehold Raceway NJ

La Player A – Time: 1:55.0, Stake: $6,300

Revolver N – Time: 1:54.0, Stake: $7,700

Hollywood Dayton Raceway OH

Lucifers Legend A – Time: 1:52.3, Stake: $14,000

Meadowlands NJ

Let It Ride N – Time: 1:49.2, Stake: $28,000

Hail Christian N – Time: 1:52.2, Stake: $15,000

Northfield Park OH

Betterthanamisus N – Time: 1:53.1, Stake: $13,500

Sunday 31st October

Harrah’s Philadelphia PA

Dina Bolt N – Time: 1:53.2, Stake: $11,200

Niamh Franco N – Time: 1:52.1, Stake: $9,900

Northfield Park OH

Cocosfella A – Time: 1:52.3, Stake: $15,500

• Down Under Trifecta – 2nd Executive Dash N, 3rd Rub Of The Green N

Saratoga Harness NY

Sammy The Bull N – Time: 1:55.0, Stake: $9,350