Starsel enjoyed a perfect two-hole trip and then rolled past Victors Vicky in deep stretch to win the $26,000 Open Trot on Wednesday, Dec. 29 at Dover Downs

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With Daryl Bier at the controls, Starsel followed Victors Vicky and Ron Pierce from the starting gate and sat second until reaching the passing lane when the Angus Hall-Super Sally gelding zipped past on the way to a 1:55.3 triumph for owners Glenn DelRusso, Charles Dombeck and trainer-driver Bier.

It was Starsel’s third win of the meet along with four seconds in seven races bringing his seasonal bankroll to $73,895 and lifting his career total to $691,012. Victors Vicky, the only mare in the field, was second with last week’s winner Photo Maxx and Mike Cole third.

Earlier Tm Curtin moved The Budster into the lead heading to the clubhouse turn and the Broadway Hall-Distaff gelding was never fazed en route to a 1:56 victory in an $18,000 Winners-Over Trot. The 11-year-old veteran, Batalj Launcher (Ron Pierce), finished second with Man About Town (Matt Kakaley) next.

In a $15,000 trot, Classic Puzzle was too much for six foes recording a 1:56.3 victory, his fourth of the meet for the sophomore in five starts at the track. Corey Callahan drove the win, his second on the card, with Private Marino (Ron Pierce) a strong second in front of Jeter Marvel (Toby Lynch) the show finisher.

Trainer Bobby Glassmeyer and driver Jon Roberts teamed up to win both $20,000 Claiming paces. Since being claimed by Glassmeyer, Perfect Swing has been a perfect three-for-three. Roberts steered the Jate Lobell-Greatestgiftofall gelding to victory in 1:53.2. It was his fifth win of the year and $44,675 this season and $233,937 lifetime. Force Ore Finesse (Ron Pierce) and Best Dream Seeker (Brad Hanners) were second and third respectively.

The same duo combined for a Landfairsfirstmach 1:54 victory his second straight since being claimed and fourth win of the current season. Wynsum Magic (Matt Kakaley) closed with a rush to nip Marks Pacific (George Dennis) for second.

(Dover Downs)