Dinges-Spriggs complete “twin” exactas

Oak Grove, KY — The United States Harness Drivers Club, enjoying its new reincarnation in Kentucky at Oak Grove Racing and Gaming, had a rare pari-mutuel event on Sunday (May 21), as its two harness racing events produced a Tony Dinges-Dein Spriggs exacta in each race.

The first event, a $12,000 USHDC Pace, went to Sports Teller (Sportswriter) for Dinges in 1:54.2, edging past Spriggs and Tuapeka Jessie N in a race where the amateurs used their true professionalism to avoid a breaker — Feelin Lika Winner — after the half-mile mark. Meant Tobe Shooter, with Adarryl Gates, was placed third while Joe McDude, going an extra-long journey for Jafari Frazier, was moved up a notch to fourth while the veteran Feelin Lika Winner, recovering from that aforementioned miscue, was moved down from third to fifth for Carson Conrad.

In a post-race interview, Dinges related, “I really don’t know how I avoided th11.2e breaker. When you’re on the racetrack and situations arise, your split-second reactions take over and, in this case, it turned out OK…very thankful.”Dinges owns and trains the winner, a new arrival in the barn, who has a win and a pair of seconds in his three race history here in Kentucky. The winner paid $4 and the Dinges-Spriggs $1 exacta paid $11.29.

A few races later as the sun was beginning to set, Dinges gave the Aussie bred Gunrneedabgrboat A (Sportswriter) a gutsy drive from an outside post to score in an all-foreign finish with Britain’s Ayr Pioneer GB second for Spriggs and Border Patrol A next for Julie Whitman. Skyway Three Ball, handled by Danarius Dortch, was fourth while Uncle Si, guided by Jafari Frazier earned the final check.

Gunrneedabgrboat A, also a new tenant in the Bluegrass State, stopped the clock in 1:55.1 and earned his second win of the year — first for trainer Trey Brinson and owner Steve McDaniel Jr.

In that event, Dinges sent the rugged 9-year-old Gunrneedabgrboat A surging off the wings but was still double-bubbled past the opener in :27.3. After getting cover from Ayr Pioneer GB and Spriggs, the winner made his next move turning for home and won by a length, paying $14.50 to his faithful. That Dinges-Spriggs exacta paid $35.02, and Gunrneedabgrboat A sent his career bankroll to $181,882 with $153,248 earned here in the United States since his 2020 arrival.

by John Berry, for the USHDA