Chester, PA — Corey Callahan recorded the 7,000th driving victory of his career on Thursday afternoon (June 23) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

This milestone win for Callahan, whose drives have earned $102.4 million in purses, may have been even better for the likeable 44-year-old, because the winner Star Razor is trained by his brother Shaun and is co-owned by his father, Nick, along with Yorwollahan Racing Team (of which Corey is a member) and Greg Godbout. They were all joined in the winner’s circle by other members Callahan family after the Dejarmbro gelding Star Razor went wire-to-wire in 1:54.4 to give him his fourth straight victory.

Corey Callahan’s 7,000th career driving win was truly a family affair, as winning horse Star Razor is trained by his brother Shaun (at horse’s head) and co-owned in part by both Corey and his father, Nick (left of Corey). Grace Zimmers photo.

In the featured $22,500 handicap trot, Hayek won his third straight race, scoring in 1:54 over a sloppy track.

Having beaten lesser opposition in his two local starts, the winning E L Titan gelding drew for an inner slot against a field which had won a collective $5.7 million. Dexter Dunn put the opportunity to maximum use, getting Hayek into pocket position behind the swiftly-leaving JL Cruze, where he sat through splits of :27.3, :56.2 and 1:25. Dunn sensed his horse was full of trot and vacated the two-hole on the far turn, with his horse responding quickly and winning by 1-1/2 lengths over JL Cruze, who retained second in a photo over Scirocco Rob.

Hayek boosted his lifetime bankroll to $350,271 for trotter Per Engblom and the partnership of Evan Katz, David Rovine Stable LLC and Frank Canzone.

Melvin Hartman, Herb Liverman and David McDuffee’s Bee Forever, the majestically-bred 4-year-old son of Muscle Hill and Bee A Magician, remained undefeated in four 2022 starts after a 1:55.1 triumph in the $15,300 co-feature. The gelding tucked fourth and then was sent uncovered by Dunn heading into the backstretch, where he roared by the pacesetter nearing the far turn and stayed clear to the line, covering the back half in :56.2. Nifty Norman’s trainee shows a large capacity, maneuverability and determination – not quite the smoothest horse yet, Bee Forever may still soon be among the better trotters on the North American scene.

Racing will continue at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday (June 24) at 12:25 p.m. and Sunday (June 26) at 12:40 p.m. Programs are or will be available at the PHHA website.