Starsel caught Cold Winner in the final strides to win the $26,000 Open Trot on a speeded-up card Wednesday, Jan. 26 at Dover Downs due to rain and Weather Bureau assumptions

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Daryl Bier driving Starsel sat behind Cold Winner (Ron Pierce) from the start the came to the outside turning for home. At mid-stretch the duo were head-to-head with Starsel putting his nose in front at the wire in 1:56.1. Photo Maxx (Mike Cole) came on to finish third.

The win was the third of the meet for the track’s Trotter of the Meet two seasons ago. Driver Bier, Glenn Del Russo and Charles Dombeck own the Angus Hall-Super Sally veteran, now a career winner of $714,932.

The rain turned into snow flurries for the $18,000 Winners Over Trot. The team of Tim Curtin driving for trainer Eli Scott struck again as The Budster took the lead early and never looked back for a 1:56.4 success for owner Jeff Bartels. LTs Best (Vince Copeland) closed to finish second in front of Good Feeling (Matt Kakaley). The victory was the second in his last four starts for the Broadway Hall-Distaff gelding.

In the $15,000 semi-feature trot, Classic Puzzle used post 1 to his advantage as Corey Callahan took the lead and then held off a stubborn challenge fro NF Quotable (Tim Curtin) from the three-quarters until nearing the finish line to post a 1:57.3 victory. It was the Classic Photo-Chinese Puzzle four-year-old’s third win in his last four outings and fifth triumph in seven starts this meet. Matrix Hall (Ross Wolfenden) closed well to pick up third money.

Allmar Surprise held off a late bid from Spunky Vic (Matt Kakaley) for a 1:58 victory in a $13,000 trot for her third consecutive win. Chris Giacco owns the Angus Hall-Benita Victory mare. Second Hand News (Corey Callahan) was third.

After paying double-digit prices in his previous two races, Mack Hill was a 3-1 favourite in the Delaware $12,500 Male Claiming pace. Jon Roberts guided the Armbro MacKintosh gelding from far back to a 1:54.4 third straight victory for trainer Frank Tsiporas and owner Winterset Stables.

(Dover Downs)