Driver Corey Callahan went into Monday’s card of racing at Dover Downs needing just two wins to join an elite club, and the reinsman delivered with a two-win performance.
Callahan became a card-carrying member of the 6,000-win club thanks to wins with Inforce (1:53) and then Mel Mara in the $30,000 Open Preferred Handicap for pacers.
Callahan was parked and driving with Mel Mara, who was third at the quarter in :25.4. The first panel was supplied by Dancin Yankee, but her then took a seat behind the freakishly fast Mel Mara when he brushed to the top. Once in charge, the Dylan Davis pupil charged through middle splits of :54 and 1:22.2 before using a :27.2 kicker to win by three-quarters of a length over Dancin Yankee in 1:49.4. Te Kawau N took home the show dough.
It was the 18th lifetime win for Mel Mara, who surpassed $700,000 in earnings with the win.
As for Callahan, his yearly win total climbed to 374 while his seasonal earnings soared closer to $7 million. He recently surpassed the $70 million in career earnings.