After enjoying success as a driver on the Grand Circuit, Corey Callahan decided his family needed to share in the excitement of competing on the sport’s big stage. If Movie Idol becomes a star, they will
Movie Idol won last weekend’s $50,000 elimination race for Saturday’s $250,000 Max Hempt Memorial for three-year-old male pacers at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The colt is owned by Callahan’s father, Nick, and brother, Shaun, as well as Charlie Bonuccelli. Shaun Callahan trains the horse.
The group purchased Movie Idol, a son of I Am A Fool out of the mare Movie Star Legs, for $8,000 as a yearling at the Standardbred Horse Sale.
“I’m the one that talked them all into it,” Corey Callahan said. “My dad has never really been into buying yearlings; he races mostly just racehorses. After that stint I had on the Grand Circuit, I told them we’ve got to get in on this because this is so much fun. This is what it’s all about.
“This is the first time we’ve gone and tried to buy a stakes horse and staked him up. When I called my dad the other night (after the elimination victory), he said this was the first major stakes race he’d ever won. He was really excited about it.”
Movie Idol has won two of four races this year and three of 11 in his career. He has earned $125,933 thanks in part to a victory and three second-place efforts on the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes circuit last season.
Callahan says Movie Idol has the looks of a star, but also is temperamental. He can be particularly tricky behind the gate and has gone off stride in three races.
“We’ve always had high expectations for him,” Callahan said. “Last year was a good year. He just had bad luck at times. He can be a little temperamental at times. Some days he just doesn’t want to play. We’re hoping that he comes to play Saturday. When he gets away (from the gate without trouble), he’s always been going forward for me late. That’s the main thing.
“He’s a beautiful horse,” he added. “He looks a lot like I Am A Fool. He’s sharp. But like I say, a beauty contest doesn’t win the race. But it doesn’t hurt.”
Last week, Movie Idol won at odds of 26-1 from post seven, getting a second-over trip and avoiding trouble coming off the final turn as several horses went off stride.
“Everything worked out perfect in that race,” Callahan said. “I hope I get that lucky this week. As long as I can get away from the race good and get into the race, it should be OK. I’d love to be second over like last week, but it’s tough to get that dream trip every week. If I’m somewhere in the outer tier and have a shot at them late, I think he’s got a good shot at them.
“He’s not a real racy horse. He’s kind of lazy and only goes as much as he has to. He likes having a target. He’d rather race them on his left side rather than have them try to get by him.”
Movie Idol is not eligible to the North America Cup or Meadowlands Pace, but does have events such as the Little Brown Jug, Adios, Battle of the Brandywine, and Matron Stakes on his schedule.
“We tried to pick our spots and make it as economical as possible,” Callahan said. “We think we have a good horse, but we don’t think we have the best horse. We think we have a horse that can make good money. We’ve started the year off well. We’re excited about it. It’s a lot of fun for us.”
This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.