by john manzi, for the Billings
Series
Dein
“the Dream” Spriggs is back.
Spriggs,
one of the most prolific amateur drivers ever to sit behind a Standardbred
showed his competition why he was named National Amateur Driver of the year
twice; first in 2004 and then again in 2005.
However,
in recent seasons he hasn’t driven much in the Billings Series, although he has
been productive in the Florida Amateur Drivers Association’s races as
well as competing against European counterparts in various international
amateur competitions
Just back from an international driving competition in the
United Kingdom and in Finland with his Florida Amateur Club, Spriggs’ notched
his 437th career victory tonight (Saturday evening, August 26)
at Tioga Downs when he sat back off speedy early fractions and then came on to
pick up all the marbles to win the Billings Trot with his own Perfect Road in a
1:57.3 clocking.
“We had the five-hole tonight and since my horse doesn’t
have real gate speed I headed for the pylons and figured I’d let the race
unfold,” Spriggs said. “And they were battling up front so we went speedy early
fractions and being close,(to the leaders) I waited until we headed down
the stretch before I pulled the plugs and when I did Perfect Road was the
strong horse and we caught Doc (Scott) Woogen (driving Six Bax) in the final
strides to win it.”
Third place went to War Cry Hall, driven by Bob “the
Headhunter” Hechkoff.
The
winner, a 5-year-old Holiday Road gelding , trained by Patti Harmon, returned a
$10.20 win mutuel.
Spriggs
was the leading driver in the Florida Amateur Club’s Series at Pompano Park
earlier this year and he won a few races against European amateurs on
their home turf.
“This
was only my second start in the Billings this year but I plan to race many more
times in the series,” Spriggs said.
Thus
far this season Spriggs has driven 13 winners in just 29 starts and is carrying
a hefty .532UDR.
