The Canadian Sportsman

Thanks to premier three-year-old pacing colt Mr Wiggles, driver Corey Callahan's first taste of Grand Circuit competition has been fine dining.

At age 31, Callahan is not the prototypical 'young driver' in the business; however, with only four years since gaining his driver's license in 2005, Callahan certainly fits the bill as an up-and-coming reinsman.

After graduating with a marketing degree from the University of Kentucky, Callahan, a native of Easton, MD, worked in recruiting for four years before trying his luck in the horse business, alongside his father, trainer/driver Nick Callahan.

He may be a late bloomer, but in just four years, racing the majority of his time in Delaware at Harrington Raceway and Dover Downs, Callahan has won more than 1,100 times and earned upwards of $14 million.

This year, he got along so well with George Teague-trainee Mr Wiggles in the early season in Delaware, that he was tabbed as the colt's regular driver, accompanying the horse to racing engagements in the Hoosier Cup, North America Cup, Meadowlands Pace, Adios, Little Brown Jug and now the Breeders Crown, where he won his elimination on Oct. 17 in 1:50.2.

“He's basically put me on the map," said Callahan, from the paddock following his Crown elimination win.

“It's one thing to drive him in Delaware in the stakes, but it's a different ball game to give me the opportunity to follow him around,” he said, of the faith put in him by co-owners Teague and Elmer Fannin, both of Delaware.

“He's given me the type of national exposure that I need, and that's what I want — to be here with Tetrick, Pierce, Campbell and Sears in these big races. When you grow up and watch these races, that's exactly what you want to be doing. So I've been fortunate that my first Grand Circuit experience has been with such a good horse. He's a phenomenal horse.”

Under Callahan's command, Mr Wiggles has earned close to $800,000 this season, including winning the Hoosier Cup and winning eliminations of both the North America Cup and the Adios.

The downside of such exposure is that everyone knows when you have a bad day. The dream of driving a top contender in the Little Brown Jug went sour on Sept. 24 in Mr Wiggle's first heat when judges ruled, after a seemingly endless inquiry, that Callahan had gained an advantage by going inside a pylon, knocking Mr Wiggles from third to fourth place. The decision meant that Mr Wiggles would be saddled with an outside post for the final, where he ultimately finished sixth, 12 lengths behind the champion, Well Said.

“It's tough sometimes. You are in a position, like a basketball player at the end of the game taking a free throw. You can either be the hero or the goat depending on the shot,” said Callahan.

“In the Jug, it was an unfortunate occurrence. I was pretty sour and despondent when I left Ohio. People kept asking me, ‘Hey, did you have a good time out there?’ and I was like, ‘Not really. I had a terrible time,’” he said.

“Then somebody told me, ‘Don’t worry, you’re only two minutes away from happiness again.’ That’s it. I had a terrible time in Ohio, but here I am winning tonight in the Breeders Crown (elim) so I guess what goes around comes around.”