by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

DOVER, Del. — The accent was on speed again and for the fourth consecutive Monday, the Dover Downs 15-race card on March 15 was the fastest program ever over a five-eighths mile track. Soho won the $32,500 Preferred Handicap in 1:51.4 while Tons The Best was even faster with a 1:51.1 performance in the $30,000 Delaware Special. The slowest time on the card was a 1:55 win.

In the $32,500 feature, Soho was invincible this week cutting out a 1:51.4 mile for Brian Sears. Getaway Hall (Kevin Sizer) was a strong second with Monsoon Hall (Brad Hanners) turning in a gritty third-place finish. The win was the third of the year for Soho, with two seconds and three thirds earning $71,400 this season for Schoor-TH and Val D’Or Farms. Last week’s event winner Clinton Debriefed was scratched sick.

Tons The Best was just that in the $30,000 Delaware Special as Kevin Sizer recorded his second win of the day, a 1:51.1 never look back victory. Crew Cut Zach (Brad Hanners) raced alongside during a :26.2 opening quarter and then found room second. Vested Hanover (Jim Morand), winner of his previous three in a row, tested him on the backstretch but Tons The Best was too much on the way to a career fastest win. Crew Cut Zach was a head better than third-place finishing C’mon C’mon C’mon (Hal Belote).

Baldachino, Outten and Green Racing’s The Cammissioner, a 17-1 shot, won for the first in more than three months as Jim Morand posted his fourth win on the program a 1:53.2 triumph to take the $22,000 Winner’s Over Pace. Hezapeach (Brad Hanners) set the pace until the finals strides and finished second. Franco New Deal N (Steve Warrington) was third. Sitting eighth after a :57 half proved costly to Racsan John (Vic Kirby) who could not make up ground on the :56.2 last half and finished out of the money aft two straight wins and five of his previous seven starts.

Gone West who had not gotten a check in his first six races this year paid $121 for a $2 ticket winning an $18,500 Delaware Winners-Over Pace in 1:53.1. Just Like Sam (George Dennis) hung Fait Accompli (Tim Curtin) through fast fractions for three quarters setting the stage for a wide open finish. Kevin Sizer picked up his third win of the night coming on in the stretch to beat Everbodyplaysafool (Eddie Davis Jr.) second with And One (Hal Belote) third. The win was the second for owners Wayne Pryor and Doc & Me Inc. and trainer Chuck Crissman.

Fred Hertrich’s Decent Card was strongest in the stretch chalking up a 1:53.1 decision in an earlier $18,500 Delaware Winners-Over Pace. Ross Wolfenden drove the Cam’s Card Shark gelding to his first win of the year. Tommy’s Eldorado (Tim Curtin) raced gamely at early leader Rapid Jate (Brad Hanners) on the backstretch and held on to finish second in front of Fox Valley Michael (Jim Morand).

Jim Morand recorded his fourth win of the day driving Tom Weber’s Perfect Cam to a wire-to-wire 1:51.4 victory in the last of three $30,000 Claiming paces. The win was the second straight for the gelding and second on the program for trainer Josh Green. Watch Hill (Bret Brittingham) was second best with third.

Rodney Mitchell’s Bonn Rocket N was claimed for the fifth straight time as Kevin Sizer guided the seven-year-old In The Pocket gelding to victory in 1:52.4 in a $30,000 Claiming Pace. Paper Branch (Greg Callahan) was next with Sporty Nate (Brian Sears) third.

In another $30,000 claimer, Helen Looney and JoAnn King’s Mattazuma required a :28.2 final panel to pass 19-1 shot Prince Of Flight (Eddie Davis Jr.) cutting out the fast early fractions of the 1:53.1 mile. Allraessignofglory (Mike Cole) was third.

Nick Callahan’s Last Resort notched a 1:53 victory in one of two $25,000 Claiming Allowance paces. Triple Jackpot (Mike Cole) was a close second. Tuck And Roll (Kevin Sizer) was the show horses.

In the other $25,000 claimer, Morand and Armbro Tristen made good use of starting from the rail. The seven-year-old altered son of Matt’s Scooter fashioned a 1:53 victory in a $25,000 Claiming Pace. Dudley Death Drop (Orlando Greene) edged Hawaiian Buddy (Vic Kirby) for second.

Morand also drove Tyler Trouble, owned by Howard Taylor and Pat Tortorello, who could not be separated by the photo finish camera form Tina’s Clark’s Troubled Flight N, driven by Brad Hanners, in a 1:55.2 deadheat for win in a $20,000 Claiming Pace.

Roger Plante rated Joe Spano and Dom Rafanelli’s Comic Song N perfectly behind Hoyt Hylight (Kevin Sizer) who battled TSM Spirited T (Brian Sears) into the final turn. Comic Song N then overtook TSM Spirited T in mid stretch to score a 1:54.1 victory in another $20,000 claimer. Exporter (Eddie Davis Jr.) finished strongly for third.

Ron Gorby’s Red Teddy was a wire-to-wire winner in 1:54.3 to win a $17,000 Mares Claiming Allowance opening race. Mindys Laughing (Hal Belote) and Debs Lil Outlaw (Brian Sears) were second and third respectively.

Carter Racing Stable’s 17-1 shot Rusty’s Loophole came up the passing lane to beat even-money favorite Smooth Trickster N to the finish line in 1:53.4 in a $15,000 Delaware Claiming Pace. Rumble Time (Hal Belote) took third money.

Rick Still moved Wayne Pryor and Doc & Me Inc.’s Dexters Voyage three wide around the final turn and pulled away for a 1:55 win in a $15,000 Claiming Pace. Mantique (George Dennis) rallied for second with Hey Roberts (Hal Belote) third. Incredible Golfer (Brad Hanners) was used hard early to get the lead and tired in the stretch finishing out of the money for the first time this year.