An octet of the United States' most recognized harness racecallers shared the microphone on Sunday, November 1 at Chester Racetrack, but it was Corey Callahan who rightfully took the spotlight, as he recorded a driving hat trick, including wins in the $33,000 Three-Year-Old Open Handicap pace and the featured $40,000 Open Handicap pace.
The sub-featured Three-Year-Old Open Handicap saw Callahan aboard Francis Azur's Standupnkissme. The duo went immediately to the front and left to set the pace through a :55.2 half mile. Under pressure up the backstretch from Wambam Sam (driven by Montrell Teague), Standupnkissme held sway, holding off the pocket-sitting Ideal Danny (George Napolitano, Jr.) in the stretch to prevail by a half-length in 1:50.4.
Callahan also partnered Edward Needle and Donnie Russell's Mystery Chase ($13.20) to victory in the Open Handicap, closing steadily in the stretch down the grandstand side after a demanding pace collapsed. Mystery Chase kicked the cover of eventual second-place finisher Lookout Hanover (Tim Tetrick), drawing clear to win by one and three-quarter lengths in 1:50.3.
The Four-and-Five-Year-Old Open Handicap pace, also contested for a $33,000 purse, went to the Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, the JJK Stables,and James Koran's McCedes ($4.80), a mount had earlier in the season by Callahan, but was teamed this time around with Yannick Gingras. The four-year-old rallied from third-over to win by a half-length over Jeremy's Successor (George Napolitano, Jr.) in 1:51.2.
Participating in the 2009 All-Star Announcers' Day, along with host racecaller James Witherite, were Scott Warren, George Anthony, Howard Oil, Gabe Prewitt, John Hernan, Peter Kleinhans, and Larry Lederman.
(Chester)