USHDC action held at Oak Grove Racing

Oak Grove, KY…April 30, 2024…Oak Grove Racing and Gaming presented a pair of harness racing events highlighting the United States Amateur Driving Club (USHDC) on Monday, April 29 and drivers Tony Dinges and Jacob Stillwell were victorious in their respective events.

Kicking off the festivities at Oak Grove on Monday, Dinges piloted Dein Spriggs’ Great Britain bred Laneside Logic GB (The Preacher Pan) to a narrowing win in 1:55.3—the nine-year-old gelding holding off the late charging Pinewood Jesse, driven by Marcus Hill, by a half-length.

Southwind Molly, with Carson Conrad handling the lines, was just another nose back in third while Western Boots, with John Mungillo in the bike, a late charging fourth. Snap Call, driven by Peter Kleinhans, actually closed fastest of all to finish fifth after starting from the second tier.

Purchased late last year by Dein Spriggs, Laneside Logic GB is also trained by driver Dinges and now sports a record of 11-3-2-1 and bounty of $19,406—by far his best season ever after his eight wins in Great Britain over four years only produced total bounty of $15,277.

The winning mile on Monday came with Laneside Logic GB sawing through panels of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:26.1 with his :29.2 finale resulting in a new lifetime mark.

In an interview from Spriggs from Sweden, “he’s certainly no Foiled Again, but he just missed last week in finishing second so Tony (driver Dinges) decided to give him another chance from his inside post. Post position played a big plus today and he raced great.”

By the way, Tony Dinges, who is known primarily for his training prowess, now has 102 wins driving—mainly in amateur events—to go along with 411 success stories as a trainer.

Off as fourth choice in the betting, Lakeside Logic GB paid $13.70 to his faithful.

Jacob Stillwell was victorious in the other USHDC event, scoring a gate-to-wire win with the five-year-old gelding Rockin M (Pet Rock) in 1:55.3, holding off challengers much of the mile while carving up fractions of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:25.1.

The fastest closing Merito Hanover, handled by Dinges, was second, 3 1/4 lengths away, while Tapped Teen, driven by Carson Conrad, finished third after going a game mile outside looking in the entire distance.

She’s A Fireball, with Cassidy Whitton driving, was next with Lou’s Delight getting the nickel for Peter Klenihans.

Trained by Antonia Storer for the Cjatpr Stable, Rockin M won for the second straight week to send his 2024 score card to 2-2-2 in 10 starts, good for $23,240 with this 30th lifetime win vaulting him over the $300,000 mark—$302,851 to be precise.

He paid $6.44 as second choice in the betting.

Jacob Stillwell, just a few days away from his 25th birthday on May 7, picked up his 34th career success.

For trainer Antonia Storer, the trip to the winner’s circle was a milestone one—her 150th—as she in on her way to her most successful season in her seven-year career.

The USHDC membership consists of drivers who donate 100% of the earnings from driving events earmarked for charitable contributions ranging from standardbred aftercare to training our retired pacers and trotters in new careers in the field of therapeutics, among other endeavors.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by John Berry, for the USHDC