It's rare in this business when an owner or trainer sets a plan for success and achieves it. When you combine the goals of men and women with the uncertainty of a horse's physical capabilities, often things get derailed. For trainer Doug Dilloian Jr., the last two years have been vivid proof, as a strategy of bringing to his stable quality horses has evolved into a pair of record-setting campaigns. Dilloian Jr. isn't unique with his strategy in some ways, but in others he's been quite particular, making certain horses he's imported come from relationships he's built for a long time. With a stable that varies between 25-30 horses, Dilloian Jr.'s stable went over the $1 million mark for the first time in 2024, racing primarily at MGM Yonkers Raceway. The likelihood that the 2025 numbers will see the earnings figure cross $2 million has been made more apparent by three of his top pacers racing in this year's MGM Grand Prix Series at Yonkers, with the Australian import Soho Firestone a likely finalist, having won and finished second in the initial two legs. "He's been a pleasant surprise," said Dilloian Jr. of the son of American Ideal with a first name "Soho" that has been somewhat of a signature moniker in the Dilloian Jr. stable. "I had Soho Lennon and he was a solid horse for years." Soho Firestone, like many Dilloian Jr. has purchased from Australia, was more of a mid-priced horse with the trainer hoping to achieve a certain earnings mark to make the investment pay off. "I'm looking to make $100,000-$125,000 with most of the horses I bring over," said Dilloian Jr. "He's made over $200,000 this year, and he's surprised me, not just by winning in 1:50 4/5 but doing so against some of the top horses." Dilloian Jr.'s formula, at least when it comes to Australian imports, has been to only find horses that have campaigned at Gloucester Park. Over the years he's developed solid contacts, and those relationships have allowed him to locate and purchase horses designed specifically to race at Yonkers. "I know the kind of horses that race over that track," said Dilloian Jr. "It's a half-mile track that's very similar to Yonkers." The stable's success with the "Soho" brand extends as well to another Grand Prix participant in Soho Dow Jones, a horse that earned more in Australia than Firestone and just eclipsed the $100K mark in earnings for the year with a fourth-place finish in Monday's (December 1) second leg of the MGM Grand Prix Series at Yonkers. "A lot of trainers are looking for younger horses that have been successful down there," said Dilloian Jr. "I try to look for horses that have raced often and done well over the years." Like all trainers, Dilloian Jr. looks for something particular in each horse. "I like a horse that looks fast standing still," said Dilloian specifically about Soho Firestone, a horse that's not too big but is instantly recognizable with a slick gait going around a half-mile track. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Longevity is a major part of any success story in this sport, and it's quite clear the rigors of racing on a half-mile track year-round can have its peaks and valleys, but Dilloian Jr. is unlike many other conditioners in his approach. "I train them hard," said Dilloian. "I try to race them competitively, but I'm not looking for the drop in class. If they aren't racing up to the level, I expect I just give them some time off." That strategy has served the stable well and midway through the 2025 season Dilloian Jr. saw the potential to reach new heights. "It's not just the horses that we have imported," said Dilloian Jr., "but we've put together a solid group of top pacing mares as well." The pacing mares Lydeo and Cheryls Shadow have collectively earned over $300K this year as hard-hitting overnight campaigners. Dilloian Jr.'s strategy in adding horses to the stable has changed a bit given the quality he has amassed. "I bought a couple at the Harrisburg sale; a 2-year-old filly coming 3 and a trotter," said Dilloian Jr. The risk, of course, is having too many that fit a particular class, and in the trainer's words "racing against yourself." With that said, Dilloian Jr. has not stopped his Down Under crusade and may have a few horses ready for battle this winter that could make his 2026 stable even stronger. New Zealand-bred Blaze On could be the next in line to race on or near the top classes, as the son of Sweet Lou, soon-to-be a 7-year-old, is set for his North American debut. "He made a break qualifying at Yonkers, and Jason (Bartlett) thought he may have needed to have the hopples tighter," said Dilloian. "I didn't want to miss any time with him, so I went over to the Meadowlands and qualified him." Blaze On won his qualifier at the Meadowlands on November 29 in 1:52 1/5, pacing home in 26 3/5. He is now entered on Monday (12/8) at Yonkers where he drew post one in the seventh race. Blaze On fits a different description of the type of horse the trainer will pursue. Specifically, a horse that may not have raced often as a young horse but showed ability and was sidelined. Blaze On made but three starts as a 3-year-old and just seven as a 4-year-old but has found his form in the last two years. Australian import Majorcrowdcontrl is another worth mentioning because he was a top-flight 2- and 3-year-old that has had setbacks in the last few years that have kept him from racing at the elite level. He finished fourth with a 27 1/5 final quarter in a qualifier at Yonkers on November 21. While Dilloian Jr. is hopeful to have representation in the $250,000 MGM Grand Prix Pacing Series final, with at least one of his horses likely assured a spot, he's proud of what the stable has done throughout the year. "To have over 100 wins is something special," said Dilloian Jr. "Yet what I'm most proud of is when you look at the standings the average earnings per start we've had." Through Monday (December 1) the stable had 105 wins in 469 starts with the average earnings per start at a very respectable $4,166. With a bit over two weeks remaining until the final day of the Yonkers season (December 19), Doug Dilloian Jr.'s stable is still hitting on all cylinders as it did during the first four weeks of the meet back in January. That's quite an accomplishment.