by John Manzi, for the CKG Billings Amateur Driving Series

Goshen, NY — The sport’s greatest traveling roadshow, the CKG Billings Amateur Trotting Series, moved on to Goshen’s Historic Track for two events on Saturday (July 2) afternoon 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.

Geri Schwarz photo

Hannah Miller and Jacks To Open reign victorious in their division of the CKG Billings Amateur Trotting Series.

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 they 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 Sunday (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 417 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.”