Make It Right turned in a spectacular 1:52.1 performance in the Maryland Standardbred Fund Stakes on Wednesday, Aug. 12, establishing both a new stakes record and a new track record for three-year-old pacing fillies at Ocean Downs.

The performance highlighted an evening that showcased the depth of Maryland-connected Standardbred racing, with three Maryland Standardbred Fund events contested and nearly $150,000 in purses on the line.

Make It Right entered the second $39,931 division as one of the horses to watch, but she still had to deliver when the gate opened. Leaving from post six with Allan Davis in the sulky for trainer Jim King Jr., the daughter of Papi Rob Hanover out of Make Mine Mocha settled into third during the early stages. Meanwhile, heavily favoured American Story, driven by Johnathan Ahle, took control and posted an opening quarter in :27.2. 

The pace never let up. American Story reached the half in :55.2, with Make It Right sitting comfortably in third.  By three-quarters, the eventual winner had begun to make her move, just two and half-lengths behind the leader after a sizzling 1:23.4 time. 

From there, Davis asked Make It Right for everything she had. The filly responded. Make It Right collared American Story in the stretch and held on by a head, stopping the clock in 1:52.1. American Story was a courageous second, also timed in 1:52.1, while More Than Better and Russell Foster finished 8-1/2 lengths behind in third. 

The record-setting winner, who won a Maryland Standardbred Fund race as two-year-old and returned to Ocean Downs after facing Grand Circuit competition in late July, is owned by Gary McCandless of Howell, New Jersey, Jo Ann Looney-King of Harrington, Delaware and Larry Rathbone of Lake Worth, Florida. Now five-for-12 this year, she has won seven times in 25 career starts for earnings of $147,245.

Before Make It Right made history, Pretty Pricey got the evening off to a fast start by winning the first $39,583 division of the three-year-old pacing fillies.

Driven by Corey Callahan and trained by Nicholas Callahan, Pretty Pricey took control early and never surrendered the lead.
The daughter of Papi Rob Hanover out of Valuable Art paced fractions of :27.4, :57 and 1:26 before finishing in 1:54.2. Moms Vision (Allan Davis) remained within striking distance throughout the mile but could not get by, finishing 2-1/2 lengths behind. Big Mamas Bet (Shane Griffith) was third.

Pretty Pricey earned four of her five career wins this season, lifting her lifetime bankroll to $75,866 through 15 starts.

The win also featured a special connection for the Callahan family of Delaware. Pretty Pricey is owned and bred by Dolly Callahan and Corey Callahan.

The third Maryland Standardbred Fund event of the evening was a $69,167 division for three-year-old trotting fillies, and Show Pony put on a performance of her own.

With Corey Callahan driving for Maryland trainer/owner/breeder Richard Hans, Show Pony left from post four and quickly took command. Once she reached the front, the race was essentially over. Show Pony posted fractions of :28.3, :58.2 and 1:27.4 before finishing the mile in 1:56.4. She opened up dramatically in the stretch, crossing the wire 16-1/2 lengths ahead of Progressivekathy (Russell Foster) and a half length further to More Than Tipsy (Jared Moyer).

The daughter of Captain Corey out of Upside Blue Chip delivered one of the most dominant performances of the Ocean Downs meet. The lightly raced filly boasts victories in half of her eight career starts, winning three of five in her sophomore season, and now has earnings totalling $90,673.

Wednesday night’s third race paid tribute to Shaun Callahan, who left us way too young at the age of 44 on April 6, 2026. He was a fixture at the Maryland racetracks campaigning Maryland-sired horses by some of his favourites: Movie Idol, Cool Flying Fun and Masterman. In his career, he harnessed 416 winners for nearly $5 million in purse earnings.

An outpouring of support for family members and friends was seen following the Shaun Callahan Memorial, as track announcer Frank Salive described it as the largest gathering in a winner’s circle he had ever seen at Ocean Downs. 

(With files from Maryland Standardbred Fund)