by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — Corporate Rrraider, overlooked at 25-1, closed with a rush and won the $32,500 Preferred Handicap pace in 1:53 at Dover Downs. Later on the card, Crew Cut Zach used the passing lane and scored a 1:52⁴ victory in a $30,000 Delaware Special on Monday.

In the $32,500 feature, as expected, Soho, with Brian Sears driving, cut the fractions, and for the second straight week Brad Hanners attacked with Monsoon Hall on the backstretch and prompted the pace. Turning for home Tim Curtin unleashed Corporate Rrraider on the far outside and streaked past the still-battling leaders as they neared the finish line and scored the Michigan-bred gelding’s first win of 2004 for owners Dan and Tom Courtemanche. Soho held on and finished second and Monsoon Hall again finished third.

In similar fashion to last week’s $30,000 Delaware Special, Tons The Best took the lead at the start for driver Kevin Sizer, which forced Brad Hanners to tuck in second with Crew Cut Zach, who had left from post position eight. Hal Belote moved up from the back with C’mon C’mon C’mon and challenged, but Crew Cut Zach responded in the stretch, closed on the inside, and got up in the final strides and nosed out Tons The Best. C’mon C’mon C’mon raced bravely and finished third, only two noses away from victory.

Heading a powerful undercard, Moscow N took the lead early for Kevin Sizer and was never headed in a 1:52 victory, the fastest race on the card, and won a $21,000 winners-over pace. Crystal Art (Travis Bowman) came on and finished second and Hezapeach (Brad Hanners) finished third.

Rusty Thomas, driving Greg Barone’s El Gees Mr Q, made a powerful, last-to-first brush on the backstretch and then pulled off and earned his second open lengths win in a row, a 1:53 conquest in an $18,500 Delaware winners-over pace. Fox Valley Michael (Jim Morand) finished next and the early leader, Fifteenletters A (Brad Hanners), finished third.

Tim Curtin made it to the winner’s circle for the second time on Monday in a $18,500 Delaware winners-over pace when he drove Serendipity Stable’s Fair Accompli to victory in 1:54³. Lastline Hanover ( Kevin Sizer) cut all the fractions, until the final step, at which point Fait Accompli rolled through the passing lane and got up for the win, by a nose. Kat’s Torpedo (Eddie Davis, Jr.) finished another nose back in third.

Jeff Franklin’s Debs Flying Prints, reined by Travis Bowman, overtook Sporty Nate (Brian Sears) in mid-stretch and posted a 1:53² score in a $30,000 claiming pace. Ring Of Life (Jim Morand) was the show horse.

El Lobo’s Painted Arrow, piloted by Brad Hanners, who won three races on the program, came from off of the pace and overtook cluster of four rivals in the stretch and notched a 1:53⁴ victory in a second $30,000 claiming race. Allrasessignofglory (Mike Cole) finished as the runner-up, and On The Tee (Les Givens) finished third.

George Dennis moved Alton Lynch, Sr.’s White House Guest three-wide on the backstretch and took the lead, and then pulled away to a 1:53⁴ win in a third $30,000 claiming race. Summertime Sam (Ross Wolfenden) finished second, and Invader Hall (Brad Hanners), whose three race win streak came to an end on Monday, raced gamely and finished third.

Wanda May Saulsbury and trainer Arty Foster, Jr.’s Mr Touring, teamed with Ross Wolfenden, was in perfect position to strike when four horses fanned out in the final $30,000 claiming allowance on the card in 1:53⁴. Mr Touring held off Wynfield Bob (Jim Morand), who had moved strongly from last on the backstretch, and then moved four wide entering the lane. Back Spin (Travis Bowman) finished third.

Wayne Pryor and Wendy Crissman’s Simply Hilarious turned in a strong 1:53² victory, the third of the day for the meet’s leading driver, Jim Morand, raced on the outside over the last half-mile, and got up in the final strides for a neck victory in a $25,000 claiming allowance. Troubled Flight N (Brad Hanners) finished second and the front-pacing Tyler Trouble (Brian Sears) finished third.

Brian Sears began the 15 race program when he guided Ted Tomson’s TSM Spirited T to a 1:55 victory in a $20,000 claiming pace. Ruthless Victor N (Hal Belote) finished second and Blue Orient A (Brad Hanners) finished third.

Ron Goby’s Red Teddy made it two in a row when Brad Hanners drove the Nobleland Sam 6-year-old to the front and stayed there in a 1:54² mile in a $17,500 mares claiming allowance. Precious Prize (George Dennis) and Mapua Magic N (Vic Kirby) finished second and third, respectively.

Green Racing, Inc. and driver Jim Morand chalked up wins in both $15,000 claiming allowance paces. In the first, a 10-year-old gelding, The Master N, would not be denied and won for the third straight week, this time in 1:54¹, and won the first of two $15,000 Delaware claiming paces. Alpine Charger (Kevin Sizer) closed well in the stretch and finished second and Dexters Voyage (Brad Hanners) finished third.

In the second $15,000 claiming race, the slowest race of the day, Work Out closed four-wide and got up in the final two strides and earned a 1:55¹ victory. Carolina Major (Jim King) finished second and Smooth Trickster N (Brad Hanners) finished third.

The track’s four straight weeks of record breaking racing programs came to an end on Monday. Even so, just three weeks ago the Monday card would have been a record breaking one.

Saturday and Sunday post time is at 5:30 p.m. (EST) and Monday through Thursday racing begins at 4:30 p.m. Friday is a dark day at the track. There is no charge for admission or parking. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and the four star Dover Downs Hotel. Call (302) 674-4600.