Youth AND experience on display in USHDC

Carson Conrad and Dein Spriggs shared center stage at Oak Grove Racing and Gaming on Sunday (May 14) with wins in their respective U.S. Harness Racing Club events.

Conrad, 18, earned his ninth career winning drive by piloting the 10-year-old Timetoplaythegame (Badlands Hanover) to that gelding’s 32nd career win, sending his career bankroll to $159,576. The mile was clocked in 1:56.3 with the winner’s final panel clocked in :29.2 to seal the issue.

Off the pace during the sizzling :56.1 opening half, Conrad’s charge took up the chase on the backside and rallied by the pacesetting Smiling Terror, driven by Gary Campbell, to score by 1 1/4 lengths.

Tobins Native, with Travis Williams, Jr. in the sully, was awarded third in the mile.

The winner is trained by Robert Lagoon for owner April Lyn Roach.

Young Conrad, a neighboring Indiana native, has been driving for three seasons—his first win coming at the Connersville Fair with Zig Zag Zoom at the age of 16.

The win with Timetoplaythegame was his first winning pari-mutuel drive and he rewarded his faithful with a $14.34 mutuel.

Spriggs, on the other hand, is one of the senior citizens of the USHDC and was back of one of the equine senior citizens in his event, China Dream (If I Can Dream) as this 12-year-old gelding got picture perfect handling to score his 53rd career win, vaulting his earnings to $441,790.

That mile was timed in 1:55.3 with China Dream using a :29 finale to hold off Sports Teller, driven by Tony Dinges by 1 1/2 lengths.

Skyway Three Ball, with Denarius Dortsh driving, rallied for the show spot.

Despite starting from the “rail” with Spriggs, China Dream was fourth choice in the betting and returned $16.76 to his faithful.

In a post race interview, Spriggs lamented, “We really got a great trip, especially getting cover halfway through. It struck me kind of funny when the announcer Robin said something like the ‘old-timer’ has reached the front…and I didn’t know if that meant me or China Dream!”

China Dream is trained and owned by Maria Rice.

During the afternoon festivities, the USHDC added to its list of charitable beneficiaries with a donation to the Steele Magnolia Sanctuary, devoted to the rescue and rehabilitation of neglected, abused and/or abandoned horses.
After they are rehabilitated, they become part of their Therapeutic Equine Program, helping those in need of emotional, spiritual, physical or financial assistance.

The club’s donations are now in excess of $300,000 since its inception.

USHDC events are conducted at Oak Grove each Sunday during the racing season.

For complete race results, click here.

by John Berry, for the USHDC