by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — Lather Machine stepped up to the $32,500 Preferred ranks for a 1:50.4 victory, while Art Director scored an 8-1 win in the $31,000 Delaware Special on a big Monday (Jan. 8) card at Dover Downs. Both feature race winners are conditioned by Bobby Clark. Tim Tetrick collected four winning drives.

In consecutive starts, Lather Machine won the Battling Brad Final at Chester Downs, an $18,000 Winners Over and $25,000 Open Pace at Dover Downs, and now with regular driver Tim Tetrick at the controls, he out stepped a select field of six in the $32,500 Preferred in 1:50.4 for the Badlands Hanover gelding’s fifth win in his last six starts.

Lather Machine took the lead at the start, fought off Fake Denario N and Ron Pierce during the middle stages of the mile and coasted home a convincing victor. Dream Rocket made a break at the start but then rallied for Brian Sears to charge home second in front of Maximum Viking and Jim Morand.

Gary and Barbara Iles of Harrington, Del. bred and own Lather Machine, whose dam Pocket Comb is a full sister to the late Delmarva champion Crew Cut Zach.

Another Bobby Clarke trainee, Art Director, owned by Kovach Stables of Milford, Del., also driven by the meet’s leading driver Tim Tetrick, closed fast to win the $31,000 Delaware Special in 1:52.4, holding off a late charge from Clinton Longshot, handled by Ross Wolfenden, and race favorite High Calibre N and Steve Warrington.

For the third time in his last five starts, Next Flight scored a longshot victory in the $24,000 Open Pace. Once at 19-1, then at 13-1 and now at 8-1 the Shotgun Scott gelding, owned by Henry Faragalli Jr. and III, Bell Bauman and trainer Del Cote, came from last at the half, moved outside to seventh at three-quarters and then Jim Morand hustled the 6-year-old up on the outside to just get up in 1:52, nailing Midnight Walk and Ross Wolfenden by a neck, with the Ron Pierce-driven Nvinclbl Artist third.

Monday through Thursday, post time at Dover is 4:30 p.m. Friday is a dark day at the track. Saturday and Sunday racing begins at 5:30 p.m. There is no charge for admission or parking. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant. Call (302) 674-4600.