Schoolkids went right to the front to win the $31,000 Preferred/Open Pace while Fancyfreeshark came from off the pace to take the $30,000 Delaware Special in the twin-feature races on Monday, Jan. 2 at Dover Downs

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The 2009 Matron winner Schoolkids took the lead early for Pat Berry and the brown son of I Am A Fool-Game Bunny disposed of seven rivals on the way to win the first feature race of the New Year, recording a 1:52.3 triumph.

Nick Surick conditions Schoolkids for owner New Jennaration. The now six-year-old has won $793,192 in his career.

Catchmecullen A closed sharply for Tim Curtin to finish second in front of Harlingen Hanover and Roger Plante. Jeremys Successor was scratched.

In the next race, Jon Roberts enjoyed a perfect two-hole trip following leader Highbeam Rusty N until deep stretch before poking his head in front at the wire in 1:52.3 to win the $30,000 Delaware Special. Bobby Glassmeyer owns and trains the five-year-old Four Starzzz Shark-Fancy Art horse. Highbeam Rusty N (Matt Kakaley) and Nova Artist (Allan Davis) were second and third respectively.

Village Beat with Dave Miller in the bike notched a 1:52.4 score in the first of two $16,500 Male Winners-Over paces. Josh Green trains the Rocknroll Hanover-Village Baroque gelding for Murray Bethour. Winsmith Art (John Wagner) was second with Windfall Blue Chip (Montrell Teague) third.

Delivered From Zin made his first local appearance in three years in the other $16,500 division and the recently claimed nine-year-old altered son of Sealed N Delivered-Zinful displayed his more recently found front-pacing ability for trainer Dylan Davis and new owner Howard Taylor as Corey Callahan piloted a 1:52.3 victory, his seventh win in a row. Dr. Dreamy (Montrell Teague) finished a game second. Bad Rusty (Ross Wolfenden) closed to finish third.

In one of a pair of $16,000 4&5-Year-Old paces, Daryl Bier guided a gelding he owns with Forrest Bartlett and Joann Dombeck, Special T Rocks, to his third straight win. The four-year-old by Rocknroll Hanover out of Ladys Special Girl stopped the clock in 1:51.1. Big Bad Eli (Ross Wolfenden) was runner-up. Four Corners (Montrell Teague) was the show horse.

The other $16,000 event for young pacers went to Joe and JoAnn Thomson’s homebred Stagecoach Holdup teamed with Sean Bier. The JK Outlaw-Jenny Money gelding held off Win A New Day (Corey Callahan) and Bad Man Sam (Frank Milby) in a 1:54.1 mile.

Monday through Thursday post time is 4:30 p.m. There is now no live racing on Fridays and Saturdays at Dover Downs. Starting Jan. 8, Sunday racing will begin at 1 p.m.

(With files from Dover Downs)