by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

DOVER, Del. —- Soho took the lead at the start and was never headed in 1:53.2 victory to win the $27,500 Preferred/Handicap Pace in one of the two Monday, Jan. 5 feature races at Dover Downs. Crew Cut Zach won the other, a $25,000 Delaware Special Pace.

Soho pushed his career earnings to $502,100.

In the $27,500 Preferred, Kevin Sizer rushed Soho away snappily from the gate and the Schoor-TH Stable and Val D’or Farms’ five-year-old Northern Luck horse did the rest by himself carving out all of the fractions in the first feature race of the New Year. Now a career winner of $502,100, Soho finished 2-lengths up on Racsan Nuke (Steve Warrington) who sat second the entire route. Beecher Park (Jim Morand) closed strongly to take third.

Brad Hanners won his third of the night guiding Gary and Barbara Iles’ veteran Crew Cut Zach to an unusual victory from off the pace to win the $25,000 Delaware Special. Normally know for cutting fast miles, the nine-year-old altered son of In The Pocket sat second until the top of the stretch then moved along the passing lane to post an easy 1:53.1 victory, his second in his last three outings. Tons The Best (Kevin Sizer) was runner-up with Fox Valley Michael (Jim Morand), who went off as favorite, finishing third.

Arty Foster’s Bolero Hanover bolted down the stretch to overpower seven rivals in a 1:54.1 victory taking a $15,000 Delaware Winners-Over Pace. The Answer (Ross Wolfenden) was second best while Snickers Hanover (Eddie Davis Jr.) made up a world of ground to finish third.

In a second $15,000 Delaware Winners-Over Pace, Ken and Betsy Wood’s Evrybodyplaysafool streaked from dead last at the head of the lane to overpower the field for a 1:55 victory with Eddie Davis Jr. at the controls. Melt Down (George Dennis) was the place horse. Kat’s Torpedo (Brad Hanners) was there for show.

Hanners won earlier guiding Rapid Jate home from far back at the top of the lane for Jonas White, Ruth Devenney and Harness The Power in 1:54.2 to win a $12,500 conditioned pace. L Argent T (Mark Lancaster) cut out the early fractions and held on for second. Primary Colours N (Steve Warrington) was third.

Vic Kirby notched a driving double. He drove Bill Emmons’ Natures Fury A to a 1:55.2 score in a $30,000 Claiming Pace outdistancing Lavros Whirlwind N (Eddie Davis) and Vested Hanover (Kevin Sizer) who finished second and third respectively.

Kirby’s first win came guiding C’mon Forty-Niner from far back at 47-1 odds to win a $25,000 Claiming Pace in the first start since being claimed a week ago by Morris and Christine Williams for $20,000. West Point (Hal Belote) and front pacing Jeff F (Jim King Jr.) were next in line.

Bob Briley’s Jaccka Midnight N won another $30,000 claimer as Jim Morand piloted the victory in 1:54.4. Dropdeadgorgeous A (Brad Hanners) was placed second and Stormy Albert (Steve Warrington) place third when second-place finisher Prince Of Flight N (Herve Filion) raced inside a pylon turning for home.

Morand won a $25,000 claimer guiding Bill Emmons’ Simply Hilarious to a 1:55.1 win. Classic Impression (Bret Brittingham) was next. Sokys Raider N (Ross Wolfenden) was third.

El Lobo’s No Option was strongest in the stretch in yet another $30,000 claimer, another of Brad Hanners driving triple. Four Starzzz Matt (Mike Cole) finished second with Mr. Touring (Ross Wolfenden) third.

In $20,000 claimers, Whatayasay came back after being passed on the backstretch to score a 1:55.1 victory, the second of the day for Kevin Sizer, for owners Woody Long and T.A. Fleetwood. Love That Cut gave owners Gary and Barbara Iles and trainer Bobby Clark a double, as Brad Hanners recorded his fourth win of the day in 1:56.1. Jim Morand zoomed into the lead heading for the three-quarters and moved away from his rivals for a 1:54.4 victory driving Tom Weber’s Were In Luck in the other $20,000 event giving Morand a triple and trainer Josh Green a double.