Berlin, MD — The Maryland Standardbred Fund 2-year-olds, both pacers and trotters, roared in to Ocean Downs Monday (July 31) and it was a welcome homecoming for driver Corey Callahan.

Callahan, who started out his illustrious driving career years ago at the Ocean oval, captured two divisions of the races, winning the third race with the Mark Harder trainee Jack’s Boy (Met’s Hall). The 2-year-old gelding trotter captured his first lifetime win in 2:03.1, besting Ronnie Ridge and Locked Out. The winner is owned by Joe Jannuzzelli and Harder and was bred by Winbak Farm.

Callahan came right back in the fifth race winning with the 2-year-old pacing filly Silly Choice, a Courtly Choice freshman, in the time of 2:03. It was the first lifetime win for the filly trained by Cory Mumford and owned by Willy Billy LLC. Winbak Farm was the breeder. Covid For Real was second while American Marvel was up for the show.

“It was like I never left,” said Callahan. “I love coming back to where it all started.”

Not to be outdone, Pat Berry drove the Julie Miller trained Likeitusedtobe in the first race to an easy score in 2.02.4 for the 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings. The Walner gelding made it look easy, beating K J Dash and War Pony. Likeitusedtobe is owned and was bred by Frederick Hertrich III.

In the nightcap, going as race eight, another familiar name in harness grabbed the brass ring as driver Marcus Miller scored with the 2-year-old Boston Red Rocks filly Desperate Dream for his training dad, Erv Miller. The wire-to-wire score in 1:58.4 was the first lifetime win for the filly, owned by Douglas Overhiser and bred by Winbak Farm. Emmylou was second and Rollnindreams was third.

The Maryland Standardbred Fund races continue on Wednesday (Aug. 2) as the 2-year-olds continue at Ocean Downs with trotting fillies and pacing colts.

Ocean Downs also hosted an exhibition two seated jog cart race with four Maryland Race Commissioners between the fourth and fifth race with Terri West (Frank Milby) the winner. Also in the race were Tammy Lafferty (Eric Davis), Bobby Lillis (Jonathan Roberts) and Ellen Zavian (Johnathan Ahle).