Meadowlands: Callahan with plenty of opportunity on weekend cards

Driver Corey Callahan is keeping quite busy this winter. While some drivers slow down during the colder months, Callahan has been active, racing Monday through Thursday at Dover Downs, and then coming to East Rutherford on weekends to compete at the Meadowlands. Callahan will be quite busy this weekend, with a host of contenders over the two days of racing in New Jersey.

Callahan's mount could be in play in the second race on Friday as Scirocco Patrick (post seven) looks to bounce back.

"He put in a few good races back-to-back," said Callahan of the 4-year-old by Father Patrick. "I spoke with Mark (Silva) on Monday, and he said he's made some changes, so I hope he'll be improved. He is dropping in class."

Scirocco Patrick finished third behind the red-hot Get Legs three races back.

Look for Nutcracker Sweet to be a serious contender in the fourth race. The classy veteran had drawn posts ten and nine, respectively, in his last two starts, and his driver liked the efforts.

"I raced him from behind both times, and he had pace finishing," said Callahan.

With a significant drop in class on Friday, Nutcracker Sweet (post six) appears primed to regain winning form.

In Friday's fifth race, Callahan hopes that the pace and flow work out for That's Incredible (post eight) in the lower-level conditioned event for fillies and mares.

"She finished very well the last time I drove her (January 8)," said Callahan.

On Saturday night Callahan has a few more drives and a few more contenders. Following last week's 27-1 upset victory, Explosive Ridge steps up in class in Saturday's opener.

"He was really impressive last week," said Callahan of the 1:53 2/5 effort by the 7-year-old who was making his first start off the claim for trainer Raymond Vizzi. "He felt good throughout the entire mile, and I was just a bit worried that I wouldn't get out."

Explosive Ridge blasted home in 27 4/5 for his third win in his last five starts. Explosive Ridge (post five) is in for a $30,000 price tag.

Callahan has been named on Shvaiko, a 4-year-old Art Major-sired gelding in the fourth race. It will be his first start behind the gelding that has won two of his last three starts at The Meadows. Shvaiko drew post nine in race four.

Kenziesky Hanover makes her 6-year-old return for trainer Jeff Cullipher in the $22,500 featured trot, carded as race six on Saturday. Callahan sat behind the mare to a second-place finish in her qualifier on January 23 at the Meadowlands.

"I think she'll need one or two starts," said Callahan about the mare who drew post seven, while the $1.5 million winner JL Cruze landed the pole position. The featured trot also finds the streaking Buck Dancer (post nine), looking for his fifth straight victory since joining the Carmen Auciello stable.

Callahan is a regular pilot for trainer Dylan Davis, and it's that association that gives him confidence in the veteran Mindtrip (post five) in Saturday's eighth race (Big Game Series).

"He really wasn't himself in his last start," Callahan said of Mindtrip's ninth-place finish on January 16. "He had a week off, and I spoke to Dylan, and he said he'd be better this week."

Mindtrip was a 1:49 3/5 winner at the Meadowlands in 2020 and has finished first or second in 48 of his 94 career starts.

Callahan guides Good Rockin (post one) in the second Big Game Series division, listed as race nine on Saturday's card.

"He can get a little bumpy, but he'll close," said Callahan.

Good Rockin was a solid winner two starts back at a softer class with Callahan in the bike.

Callahan has an easier spot for Decision Day, his mount in the tenth race, the $22,500 winners-over $11,500 pacing feature on Saturday night.

"I had to book off this horse, and I really liked him and asked Bruce (trainer Saunders) if he would put me back up," said Callahan.

Decision Day and Callahan reunited on January 23 and teamed to a solid third-place finish in this class.

"He's a nice little horse. He'll give you everything he has," said Callahan.

Decision Day drew post five in a field that includes the $1.7 million winner Western Fame (post seven), along with Meadowlands favorite Western Joe (post nine) and Points North (post 10), a winner at a similar level last Saturday.

The action at the Meadowlands starts at 6:00 P.M. both Friday and Saturday nights.