Dover, DE — Beach Art, who was claimed by Arty Foster Jr. for $17,500 in November, won the $18,000 Blue Hen Pace at Dover Downs on Thursday night (Jan. 16).

Beach Art overcomes windy conditions to win at Dover Downs on Thursday evening. Fotowon photo.

Wind conditions in excess of 30 miles an hour played a major factor in race strategy.

Late Mail N blasted off the gate from post eight and was parked out by Proper One before clearing in a :26.3 first quarter. Grantmeawish was also parked, but advanced to seize the lead well before a :54 half.

Beach Art and driver Russell Foster pulled first-up nearing the half and battled Grantmeawish through a :27.4 third quarter. Beach Art powered past 8-5 favorite Grantmeawish at the seven-eighths pole and won by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:50.3. Grantmeawish secured the place spot, while Silver Fox J raced second-over and finished third.

Bettor Memories wins the Preferred Handicap

It was a case of deja vu for Bettor Memories. Bettor Memories established a lifetime mark of 1:49.3 in November at Dover Downs and duplicated that effort with a victory on Thursday night in the $30,000 Preferred Handicap Pace.

Strong winds hindered the chances of Wiggle It Jiggleit and Slick Tony. They were forced to take back to the seventh and eighth positions, respectively, at the quarter pole.

Q’s Cruise reversed race strategy and left quickly. They then allowed Trump Nation, the 8-5 race favorite, to cut the race fractions. The fractions were :26.4 :55.2 and 1:22.3. Quality Bud and Anthony Morgan rushed first over and challenged Trump Nation through the :27.1 third quarter.

Bettor Memories and driver Dexter Dunn were able to catch a second over trip and took the lead in mid-stretch to win by a half-length in 1:50.2. Trump Nation finished second and Quality Bud third.

Bettor Memories is owned by Gus Dovi and trained by Nifty Norman and was sent off at odds of 4-1.