The
sport’s greatest traveling roadshow, the CKG Billings Amateur Trotting Series,
moved on to Goshen’s Historic Track for two events on Saturday afternoon, July
2, and to no one’s surprise “Hurricane
Hannah” Miller and Dein “the Dream”
Spriggs were each victorious in their respective divisions. Miller won with Jacks
To Open in 2:00 while Spriggs was victorious behind Shanghai Jack in 2:01.3.
Both trotters are trained by Nick Surick.
Coming
off her National Amateur Driver of the Year award last season where Ms. Miller
won 32 races,she seems to be aiming for another national title and with her
victory today she already has 15 winners..
Hannah did a masterful job with
Jacks To Open who was a bit rank in the early going. She left the gate with a
rush but Scott “the Driving Doctor” Woogen and Warrawee Preferred had inside
position on Jacks To Open and as the headed for the first quarter “Hurricane
Hannah” had to wrestle with her trotter to get him in behind Doc Woogen which
she did before they passed the first quarter.
Still
with a snug hold on her charge once Miller settled him in behind Warrawee
Preferred Jacks To Open relaxed a bit and was content to follow the leader.
When John “Turk” Turok moved Buck ID out to challenge as the field passed the
halfway point Miller angled 'Jack' off the pylons and they rushed up
alongside Warrawee Preferred and the two trotters raced head to head past
the three quarters and into the final turn.
“My
horse still had a lot left and we began to pass Doc Woogen," Miller
related. “And in the lane “Jack” trotted
to the front and we were easy winners.”
The
margin of victory over Warrawee Preferred was three lengths. Bluebird Kidsqueen
with Dave “The Rave” Offenberg aboard, some nine lengths behind the winner, was
third best.
As
the Harness Horse Museum’s Amateur Driver of the Year in 2015, Hannah Miller
earned a berth in the Hall of Fame Trot slated tomorrow(July 3) at Historic
Track.
“I’m
extremely proud to be able to race with, and against, the Hall of Fame
drivers,” Miller said. “I’m a bit nervous but really looking forward to it.”
In
the other division Dein “the Dream” Spriggs displayed the talent that helped
him win his 417th races thus far in his career. Up behind Shanghai
Jack from the pole position Spriggs sent his horse to the lead and they were
comfortably in front as they passed the first stanza in :29..
As
they headed to the halfway point Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford came with a
rush from far back with Starsavoveallerage and they actually were a head in
front the outside as the trotted by the half.
As
a veteran of many campaigns and two time National Amateur Driver of the Year
Spriggs used Oldford’s trotter to help keep Tagmaster and driver “Tough Tony”
Ciuffetelli locked in behind Shanghai Jack.
When
Starsaboveallerage faded in the stretch Ciuffetelli moved off the pylons and
made a strong rally which, unfortunately for him, fell short by a head as
Spriggs’ trotter was the first under wire.Third place went to Zorgwijk Impact
who was driven by “Joltin’ Joe” Pennacchio.
“I knew for me to win it I had to keep
Ciuffetelli’s trotter locked in as long as possible,” Spriggs said. "But
when he got out he came on strong but my horse hung tough and we won it be a
head."
Spriggs
was a happy man after his driving victory in the Cradle of the Trotter.
"This was my first trip here and the first time I
ever drove at Goshen", Spriggs added. "It's a wonderful place with a
lot of harness racing history
