Dunn claims first ever "Hambo" in record time

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Champion Kiwi driver Dexter Dunn has done it.

This morning he claimed one of North America's great races, the Hambletonian after an epic battle at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

Dunn and the Marcus Melander-trained Apex had to withstand a fierce duel with Big Ranger before taking out the three-year-old trotting classic in a new record time - 1:49.4. That was three-fifths of a second inside the record set by Nordic Catcher S last year.

It was the 101st running of the "Hambo". 

"The Hambo" had been one of the few races Dunn had not won since basing himself in North America around eight years ago.

The five-time USA Driver of the Year was clearly elated to have got there. 

"I remember watching this race as a kid in New Zealand," he told the crowd at The Big M, "being told that you've won there's no feeling like it."

With the margin being just a nose initially Dunn feared he'd been beaten.

"Five per cent thought I'd won it, 95% was that I got beat."

Both Apex and Big Ranger had won the two Eliminations heading into the final and were the clear two favourites for the big one. 

Apex has now won 10 from 14.

"I always had confidence in the horse," says Dunn, "but that was one helluva battle."

Footnote : The Hambletonian is named in honour of Hambletonian 10, a foundation sire of the Standardbred horse breed, also known as the "Father of the American Trotter."