by Karen Briggs, WEG Media

Campbellville, ON — Corleone Kosmos made short work of a quality field of mature trotters to capture the C$353,710 Trotting Classic on Saturday (June 13) at Mohawk in 1:53.1.

New Image Media photo

Corleone Kosmos won the Trotting Classic in 1:53.1 at Mohawk.

Misterizi and Rick Zeron made the early lead in this, the first of four Classic finals, with David Miller and Arch Madness following. But Miller had trouble holding an aggressive Arch Madness and soon elected to clear, in a first quarter time of :27.1. Arch Madness then led the field through fractions of :56.4 and 1:25.3, with the even-money favorite, Corleone Kosmos, biding his time back in fourth.

Linesman John Campbell put his charge on the move through the far turn, and by the head of the stretch Corleone Kosmos had looked Arch Madness in the eye and swept on by, with last week’s surprise divisional winner, Chick N Tell (Mike Saftic) in his wake. Corleone Kosmos crossed the wire a length to the good with Chick N Tell second and Arch Madness hanging on for third.

Driver John Campbell commented, “I knew I was going to be first-over (from the middle of the pack and) I wasn’t so happy about that but when the time came to move I had to move him. He was stronger than he was last week, I think he had some time to get acclimated and he just trotted through the stretch stronger than he did last week.

“I knew he was going to get past Arch Madness. I didn’t know what was behind us at that point. But he felt a lot stronger and had the bit in his mouth at the head of the stretch this week, whereas last week he didn’t have that punch that he normally has.

“He’s got some more aches and pains now (at seven years of age) and he’s had a lot of fast miles over the past three years. You know, he’s raced at such a high level, it’s taken its toll. But if he gets in contention, he’s got a nose for the wire and he’s dead game, you’ve got to give him credit for that. He’s been a fun horse to drive for the past three years. He’s got some quirks about him but you know that going in. Besides making a lot of money, he’s just been a fun horse to drive.”

Corleone Kosmos, a gelded son of S J’s Photo, is trained by Darren McCall for Arthur Rudolph, Rudolph Stables, and Bernard Owen. This was his first win in five starts in 2009, and his 19th, career-wise. The lion’s share of the purse pushes his total earnings to just shy of C$2 million.