Starsel was a wire-to-wire 1:55.1 winner of the $26,000 Open Trot and Up Down N Around took the $15,500 sub-feature, both driven by Daryl Bier, at Dover Downs on Wednesday, Dec. 16
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Following consecutive second-place finishes, in the $26,000 feature race, Starsel was fastest out of the gate and controlled the tempo the rest of the way to record his second win in his last four starts for trainer-driver Daryl Bier, Glenn DelRusso and Charles Dombeck. Rose Run Flash followed Starsel from the start and finished second with Impel Hanover taking third money. Starsel, an Angus Hall-Super Sally gelding, won for the 11th time this season and now has banked $197,927 this year.
In the $15,500 secondary feature, Daryl Bier moved Up Down N Around out of fourth heading to the clubhouse turn and moved the Enjoy Lavec-Ashleys Carousel gelding along the outside until finally corralling leader Vicki Gram (Art Stafford, Jr.) on the final turn to reach the front and on the way to his third straight victory in 1:58.4. Valdez (Tony Morgan), racing fifth, came through the middle to take second in front of Vicki Graham. Charles Cochran owns and trains Up Down N Around, now a five-time winner this year earning $53,032 this season Race favorite Fire On Broadway (George Dennis) broke stride at the start and was never a factor.
In a $10,00 Male pace, Tom Kelly's Print It withstood a strong stretch rally from I Aint No Fool (Brad Hanners) to post a 1:54 victory with Eric Goodell driving for trainer Josh Green. Richard Henry N (Jon Roberts) was the third-place finisher.
In addition to Bier, Tony Morgan, Brad Hanners, Roger Plante and Corey Callahan also had two wins each.
Weekday racing starts at 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Fridays are dark. Saturday post time is 5:30 p.m.
Dover Downs takes a one week Christmas Break from Dec. 20 until live racing resumes on Saturday, Dec. 26. There is no racing on Dec. 31, New Year's Eve day.
(Dover Downs)