Meadowlands: Callahan looks to make some noise in Fall Final Four

Being in the right place at the right time is optimal to a catch-driver’s career. For Corey Callahan it was good fortune that reunited him with Mangogh, one of the favorites in Saturday’s $469,300 Governor’s Cup at The Meadowlands.

“I drove him in his first few baby races and then I opted off of him,” said Callahan. The driver came back into play prior to last week’s elimination race after his former driver Brett Miller opted to go with the Tony Alagna-trained Waterway.

“He got stuck behind horses in the Matron and got shuffled back,” said Callahan of Mangogh. “I wanted to give him a chance in the eliminations.”

Initially it looked as if Mangogh was in trouble as Breeders Crown champion Captain Crunch was on the front end and Mangogh was relegated to racing first up. “I thought I needed to give him air,” said Callahan. “I wasn’t that worried that Captain Crunch was on the front end because I know that’s not his best spot.”

Mangogh’s 1:51 3/5 victory allowed him to draw well and he found a solid spot in post four for the final. “I’m happy with the spot. It’s a solid field with four or five horses that have a solid chance. It’s a good betting race for sure,” Callahan said.

While much attention has been cast on first-year sires Captaintreacherous and Sweet Lou, Callahan didn’t mind sitting behind a son of Western Ideal. “He’s had a lot of top horses,” Callahan said. “This one is a stayer. He’ll just keep fighting.”

The Governor’s Cup field is deep, with Captain Crunch, though fifth in his elimination, most likely the favorite. The son of Captaintreacherous was only three quarters of a length behind Mangogh in a race he obviously needed.

Matron winner Blood Money took a bye for the Governor’s Cup trials but didn’t suffer, drawing post five for the final. The son of Sweet Lou scored impressively in 1:51 1/5 in the Matron at Dover Downs on November 8. The Jimmy Takter-trained colt is approaching $300K in seasonal earnings.

The $435,900 Valley Victory, carded as race 10, appears to be a solid opportunity for the late blooming Seven Hills. The son of Muscle Hill finished three-quarters of a length behind Chin Chin Hall in his elimination last week, but Callahan didn’t think it was from a lack of horsepower. “I had plenty of horse and he finished with the earplugs in,” said Callahan of Seven Hills’ trip last week. “The problem was that I was trying to protect him. About every fourth stride he was about to lose it and I wanted to be careful that he didn’t make a mistake.”

Seven Hills had captured his first four races in impressive fashion but then made a surprising break in the Kindergarten final. “He was a bit high strung that night and he got pinched,” said Callahan.

Essentially talent is not the question when it comes to Seven Hills, who Callahan hopes will come with his A-game this Saturday. “I think he’s the best colt in the field,” Callahan said with an obvious note of caution.

Stella Jane will give Callahan a legitimate shot at the $490,000 Goldsmith Maid for juvenile filly trotters. “She’s been really good all season,” said Callahan. “She’s very handy and can leave and relax.”

Though Stella Jane drew outside, Callahan doesn’t see that as an obstacle with her versatility.

The Goldsmith Maid has some solid contenders, most notably Sonnet Grace, who drew the rail for trainer Ron Burke. The runner-up in the Matron has yet to win for Burke since joining his stable in early October. Yannick Gingras will guide the daughter of Muscle Mass.

Princess Deo has shown her talent over the Meadowlands surface. The New Jersey-bred filly most recently captured the Garden State for trainer Noel Daley. The daughter of Trixton landed post three in the Goldsmith Maid field.

Evident Beauty, another daughter of Trixton with multiple stakes victories, landed post 10 in this field but remains a solid threat.

Callahan will also steer Blue Moon Stride in the $175,000 TVG Mares pacing final, carded as race five on the program. “She’s definitely coming into this race in great shape,” said Callahan. “The problem with her all season is that she’s drawn a spot outside and we end up being an extra spot behind in the flow. I like the way she drew here, but there’s still Shartin and Caviart Ally inside of me.”

Callahan expects to be able to use Blue Moon Stride’s gate speed to his advantage but bemoaned the possibilities. “Caviart Ally and Blue Moon Stride can both leave well. I just don’t want to get the lead first and wind up in the three-hole behind Shartin,” Callahan said.

Callahan also picked up a drive with Will Take Charge in the $350,000 TVG Open trotting final. While clearly not at the top of his game, Will Take Charge could be in prime striking position from post four in a field deep in stakes talent.

The 13-race stakes-filled Meadowlands card gets underway at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday.