by Marv Bachrad, for Dover Downs
Dover, DE — Despite the presence of three other world champions in the contest, Robert Cooper just had a feeling Mel Mara would be the horse Corey Callahan would pilot for milestone victory 5,000 on Monday (Nov. 14) at Dover Downs in the $30,000 featured event.
“I told Corey last week he would get it (the win) with Mel,” said Cooper. “It’s crazy how some things work out.”
Fotowon photo
Mel Mara and Corey Callahan stride to that driver’s career victory 5,000 at Dover Downs on Monday.
Callahan and the 7-year-old stallion snatched the lead from the stalwart and swift Dancin Yankee after a blazing first quarter-mile in :25.2. From there on it was all about the duo placing Callahan’s name in the record books, as they clicked off spritely fractions of :54, and 1:22.2 prior to pacing home in 1:49.2.
Owned by Cooper and J&T Silva Stable, and trained by Dylan Davis, Mel Mara cemented a relationship between his human caretakers who have dominated the regional circuit. Veteran Dancin Yankee and Tim Tetrick were runners up with the Pat Berry driven Te Kawau N third. Just A Jolt was an early scratch.
In other action on the card, Little Ben and Vic Kirby made it two in a row using a front pacing stragedy to score a 1:50 conquest in the secondary feature $27,500 Delaware Special. Jane Hudson and JoAnn Looney King own the Jereme’s Jet-Honey Bud Life 5-year-old gelding trained by current meet leader Jim King Jr. Remember Me VK (Montrell Teague) finished second with Mustang Art (Sean Bier) coming on for third.
The fastest clocking on the card came when $1.1-million winning Wakizashi Hanover stormed down the stretch in a :27.2 final panel to score his first win of 2016 from seven starts in 1:49.2. Tim Tetrick, who won four races this evening, was at the controls. Arque Hanover (Corey Callahan) and Limelight Beach (Montrell Teague) were second and third respectively.
Wakizashi Hanover, an altered son of Dragon Again–Western Gesture, owned by Nova Scotians, Bruce Kennedy and Tri Country, has now won $1,284,309 in 14 lifetime races.
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In early non-wagering $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) races for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings, Jiggs (Vic Kirby) raced side-by-side witrh Master Clave (Ross Wolfenden) down the lane before pulling off for a 2:01 score. Leigh Raymer trainsc the Giant Hit-Mystic Hill gelding for owner Rodney Mitchell.
Sean Bier eguided Mooshine Lavev to his second straight $20,000 DSBF win in the other division for trainer and co-owner Erika Paradee and partners Francisca Munoz and Chrissy Crissman Bier. Crosby (George Dennis) and Command The Fire (Corey Callahan) were second and third respectively.