Callahan scores his 6,000th career win at Harrah’s Philly

Philadelphia, PA — Corey Callahan got career driving win number 6,000 on Wednesday afternoon (April 17) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, breaking the maiden of the A Rocknroll Dance gelding Don’t Judge A Book with a 1:56.1 victory and then surviving the very late drama of an inquiry, which determined that his horse made a break just after the wire, allowing the milestone victory to stand.

Callahan won his 6,000th career race on Wednesday at Harrah’s Philadelphia. USTA Photo.

The 40-year-old Callahan has won over 350 races and in excess of $5 million every year since 2009, with his best season coming in 2015, when he was fifth in North America in victories (636) and money ($9,812,464). Career-wise, the trotters and pacers he has guided have bankrolled $86.7 million.

The 1/5 pacesetting favorite Mach It So was unable to hold off the late bid of pocket rocket Cruise Patrol by a head in 1:51.1 in the $14,500 fast-class pacing feature.

Mach It So, a winner of $2,768,167 going into the contest, took the early lead then yielded it to Cruise Patrol before the 27.1 quarter, only to regain midway in quarter two, which saw the timer lock on 56. Mach It So kept the lead through the 1:23.1 three-quarter time, but on the far turn driver George Napolitano Jr. started edging out Cruise Patrol, a son of Bettor’s Delight who had already won in 1:50.4 at the meet, and in the lane the pace-setter was gallant but the pocket-sitter was fresher, taking a head decision for trainer Mike and owner Colleen Dowdall.

The Somebeachsomewhere 4-year-old gelding Closing Statement, third in his Breeders Crown at age two but suffering a lost season in 2018, won for the first time in 572 days, and posting a snappy clocking of 1:51.3 circling the field late for Dexter Dunn. Closing Statement had qualified well for this, his 2019 debut, and maybe the form evident at two but dormant at three will emerge this year for trainer Mark Harder and owner Glenn Goller.

Tim Tetrick won five times on the card to take over the early meet lead in sulky victories, having 25 to George Napolitano’s 23. Between them, Tetrick and Napolitano have won 41% of the races held at Philly so far this year (48 of 117 contests).

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