Twin Cedar Alstar (Kyle Husted) victory on Hawthorne’s 2022 meet enabled Amy Husted to win the meet’s leading trainer award. (Four Footed Fotos)

By Mike Paradise for the IHHA

When Illinois horseman Kyle Husted last year designated his wife Amy as the stable’s listed trainer to give his wife some “recognition” she deserves, no one had any idea it would propel her into the Hawthorne harness racing annals.

“Amy is there at the barn every day training the horses. She does it all and I just help her. While we make decisions together, she is the boss, said Kyle. “That’s why I made the move to list her as the trainer.”

When the Hawthorne meet ended Amy finished on top of the trainer standings in her very first year as the Husted stable’s chief conditioner . . . and made history at the Chicago circuit racetrack.

Research show that the 27-year-old New York State native was the first women to win the trainer title in the 53 years Hawthorne has conducted harness racing.

“Wow, that’s awesome,” said the surprised young lady when informed of her accomplishment.”

It wasn’t until the last evening of the Hawthorne meet the trainer title was decided.

“Nerve-wracking is the best work to describe that night,” said Amy.

Amy and the Midwest division of the Erv Miller stable were tied going into closing night each won a final on the Night of Champions, one day earlier.

Amy’s hopes rode on the barn’s two-year-old ICF trotter Twin Cedars Alstar in the Kadabra Consolation who made breaks in his previous two starts at Hawthorne but earlier in the summer won comfortably at Springfield.

“Twin Cedar Alstar has bad feet,” continued Amy. “He liked the dirt track at Springfield. However, sometimes Hawthorne’s racing surface can be a little hard and he can have trouble with it. Fortunately for us, he handled the track well when Kyle won with him on closing night.”

Amy then had the sweat out two of the races that followed to stay on top of the standings.

“I used to work for Erv so all kind of things were going through my mind that night.”

The Miller stable’s Fox Valley Shania appeared to be a “lock” to compete in the Fox Valley Flan showdown after beating the eventual ICF two-year-old champion trotting filly Marvelous Mystery in both the Springfield and Du Quoin finals, however Shania went off-stride at 1 to 9 odds in her “Flan” elimination, finishing up the track.

Shania was once more a heavy favorite in the Consolation but again couldn’t stay flat for the mile and finished out of the money,

Next up was the Incredible Finale consolation for freshman ICF colt and gelding pacers where Fox Valley Patriot needed a win for Team Miller to tie Amy. Patriot performed well but ended up that night.

Finishing on top was “awesome” for the gal who has been around horses all her life.

Her father is the retired driver/trainer Jimmy Cruise Jr. Her month Robin is a Farrington. Her late uncle Bob Farrington is of Rambling Willie fame and her grandfather on her dad’s side is Jimmy Cruise Sr., both in the national Hall of Fame.

“I guess it was destined that I would have a career in the Standardbred industry, “quipped Amy.

“My parents divorced when I was about eight. My mom went to work for Erv Miller in New Jersey. I started jogging horses at 14 then worked for him and later for Tony Alagna.

Amy and Kyle met in New Jersey at a Halloween party, and she came to the Midwest five years ago to be with her future husband, working alongside him every morning,

The “Queen” of the Husted stable, hands down, is the now six-year-old mare Fox Valley Exploit who has a special place in Amy’s heart. “She’s creeping up in on a half-million dollars in lifetime earnings ($440,179). The mare always gives you her best.”

Fox Valley Exploit is a perfect four-for-four on Night of Champions. Only Fox Valley Gemini from the Terry Leonard stable has fared better, going six-for-six on Hawthorne’s gala evening of racing.

The pride of the stable is 2 for 7 on the east coast competing in the high conditioned ranks under the care of trainer Noel Dailey. “Last year she was really good out east early last year,” said Amy. “She made over $35,000 racing against some very good mares at the Meadowlands.