Seven winning drives for Corey Callahan

DOVER, Del.— Touchdown Mindale won the Tuesday harness racing feature and was claimed in the $20,000-$25,000 Claiming/Handicap, one of seven winning drives for Corey Callahan over a 'good' track at Dover Downs on Feb. 17.

The Always A Virgin – Happy To Be Best gelding held off a strong challenge from Just Bettor (Vic Kirby) in !:53.3 to score his fourth win of the meet. The week before, the Harvey Eisman-owned five-year-old had raced for a $25,000 tag, this week he entered for $20,000 and drew the rail with the meet's top driver Corey Callahan in the bike. Touchdown Mindale took the lead from Just Bettor, who left from post 8, as the field raced in front of the grandstand and never yielded. Button Fly (Jason Lynch) finished third. After the race, ownership changed hands as Touchdown Mindale was claimed.

Callahan, the track's leading driver since the 2009-10 meet, has 191 wins through 70 racing days. His UDRS (similar to a batting average) is an outstanding .411. His drives this meet have earned nearly $1.7-million in purse for the horses he has driven.

Four of his wins came reining trotters; Muscerne, was his first win in the 2nd race; another trotter, Nova Empress from post 8 was next in the 4th. Then Callahan was in high gear winning the next five races in-a-row. Pacer Touchdown Mindale was his third winner in the 10th; a third-trotter, Jailhouse Juice took the 11th. Right back in the 12th race driving Nine Twenty Two; Windsong Ingenius, another trotter in the 13th; Art Of Escape made it seven wins.

Trace Tetrick had two early wins. Trainer Doug Lewis had one winner, his 41st of the meet, to take a two-win lead among leading trainers. Wayne Givens and Dylan Davis are tied for second with 39 each.

Classic Belisma, whose four-race win streak ended with a third-place finish in her last start, leads a field of nine in the $14,500 4&5-Year-Old Winners-Over trot on the Wednesday card.

CLASSIC BELISIMA, DERBY HEAD WEDNESDAY FEATURE TROT

DOVER, Del. —- Classical Belisima, a four-straight winner before finishing third last time, leads nine trotters to post in the Wednesday, Feb. 18 $14,500 feature at Dover Downs. First post is 4:30 p.m.

Corey Callahan will drive Classic Belisima, one of two females in the competitive field. Bill Cantrell owns the four-year-old program pick. Arty Foster Jr. sends out Everyone’s Talkin, a winner of his last two starts, with Trace Tetrick in the bike since arriving from the Meadowlands. Tina and Joe Clark’s Derby has been sharp with three-straight second place finishers. Allan Davis will drive from post 9 in the second tier.

The second distaff in the event is Eric Foster’s Stirling Charisma with Vic Kirby driving. He Belongs Here, and Daryl Bier, should benefit from starting from the rail.  Ed Hall’s Up Front N Crazy handled by Roger Plante must overcome leaving from post 8. Niss Allen’s Themida, piloted by Brandon Henley, HS Merlin with Eddie Davis Jr., and Accokeek Mercury with Sean Bier complete the line-up.  

A strong supporting card featuring several wide-open trotting events are on the Wednesday card.

Monday through Thursday post time is 4:30 p.m. There is no live racing Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday post time is 5:30 p.m.

Simulcasting of harness and thoroughbred racing is available daily from 12 Noon until 12 Midnight.

At Dover Downs, there is no charge for parking and admission. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and for those planning to stay at the 4-star Dover Downs Hotel. Call 302-674-4600.

Marv Bachrad