from Harness Publicists across North America

Wednesday’s (Dec. 16) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Dover Downs, The Meadows and The Isle Pompano Park.

Starsel romps in $26,000 Open Trot

Dover, DE — Starsel was a wire-to-wire, 1:55.1 winner of the $26,000 Open Trot at Dover Downs on Wednesday.

Fotowon photo

Starsel crossed the finish line in 1:55.1 in the Dover feature.

Following consecutive second-place finishes, 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 has now banked $197,927 this year.

In the $15,500 secondary feature, Bier moved Up Down N Around out of fourth heading to the clubhouse turn and took the Enjoy Lavec-Ashley’s Carousel gelding along the outside until finally catching leader Vicki Gram (Art Stafford, Jr.) on the final turn. Up Down N Around reached the front and went on to his third straight victory in 1:58.4. Valdez (Tony Morgan) took second in front of Vicki Gram.

Charles Cochran owns and trains Up Down N Around, now a five-time winner this year, while earning $53,032.

— Marv Bachrad

Heza Challenger cruises in Meadows trot

Washington, PA — Heza Challenger asserted his current dominance of The Meadows’ elite trotters once again Wednesday when he cruised to victory — the fourth in his last five starts — in the $27,500 Preferred.

Brett Miller sent Heza Challenger to the front in a contested opening quarter of :27.4, but the 5-year-old Chip Chip Hooray-Ten Queens gelding caught a :30.4 breather the second panel. From there, it was strictly no contest, as Heza Challenger poured it on to score in 1:54.4, 5-1/4 lengths better than Meadows newcomer Swan Image. Blowlowsanta was promoted to third with the disqualification of Master Begonia for a late break.

Bruce Riegle trains Heza Challenger, who triumphed for the 19th time in 43 career outings, for Robert Kauffman. It was one of three wins on the 14-race card for Miller.

— Evan Pattak

Kakaley triples his pleasure at Pompano

Pompano Beach, FL — He’d delayed his announcement until December 1 on whether he’d stay in Florida for the entire winter meet at The Isle Pompano Park, and on the Wednesday program his decision looked like a stroke of genius for 21-year-old driver Matt Kakaley.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

Matt Kakaley completed his hat trick on the Wednesday program at The Isle Pompano Park with claiming trotter Proud Chipper.

Less than six months ago he became the youngest reinsman in history to surpass 1,000 lifetime winning drives. Kakaley topped all drivers on the midweek program in South Florida with three winners, and that was in addition to a near miss for a fourth with veteran claiming pacer Rare Glory who was just caught at the wire.

Matt’s first win was with trotting mare Vals Empress, trained by his mother Linda. The 6-year-old daughter of C R Renegade-Balanced Empress handled a field of claiming distaff foes in 2:00.2 for Big Frank Stable. G W Gracie Dane with David Ingraham and Cherrio with Richard Simard in tow followed under the wire.

Kakaley’s winning touch with Wednesday evening trotters remained true three races later. He adeptly steered Fudgjoe down to the pylons in late stretch to nip the fraction-setting Baseball Express and driver Mike Deters right on the money in 1:56.1. Jim Langley trains Fudgjoe for owner Ernest Truffa, Jr. It was the 12th career win for the 5-year-old Crown Can-Super Petite gelding and his second score this year.

The hat trick was completed by Kakaley with yet another trotter, claimer Proud Chipper, on the program’s ninth race. The Pine Chip-Proud Catch 8-year-old gelding was let go at 3-1 as he racked up his third straight front end score and 23rd career win. Proud Chipper is owned by his trainer, Vito Fuoco, who led all conditioners with two winners on the program as he also sent out claiming pacer Pocket John to score in 1:56.2.

— Frank Salive