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 Saturday, August 26 at Tioga Downs when he sat back off speedy early fractions and then closed home 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 five-year-old Holiday Road gelding, trained by Patti Harmon, returned $10.20 to win.
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.
(CKG Billings Series)