from Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA

Freehold, NJ — The last preliminary round of the Classic Series will be held Saturday (June 6) at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario. Each leg is worth $85,000. Each $300,000 final will be held June 13, also at Mohawk.

Here is the field for the Trotting Classic (older males) with listed drivers: 1. Corleone Kosmos, J. Campbell; 2. Misterizi, R. Zeron; 3. Michaelrowyourboat, J. Smith; 4. Chick N Tell, M. Saftic; 5. Arch Madness, T. Smedshammer. Notable: Corleone Kosmos won last year’s series finale, in addition to the Breeders Crown, Titan Cup and Cutler Memorial. Misterizi won last year’s Nat Ray. Arch Madness won the Maple Leaf Trot and was second in the Breeders Crown, Nat Ray, Classic, and Titan Cup.

Here is the field for the Classic Distaff (pacing mares) with listed drivers: 1. Martha Maxine, TBA; 2. Michelle’s Power, J. Jamieson; 3. Hana Hanover, Ra. Waples; 4. Arts Diva, P. MacDonell; 5. A And G’sconfusion, D. Miller; 6. Tug River Princess, J. Campbell. Notable: Tug River Princess was the Dan Patch Award-winning 3-year-old filly pacer of 2008, when she won the Valley Forge and Nadia Lobell and was second in the Breeders Crown. A And G’sconfusion won last year’s Breeders Crown for 3-year-old filly pacers and was the Dan Patch Award-winning 2-year-old filly pacer of 2007. Hana Hanover won the 2007 Mistletoe Shalee in a stakes-record-equaling 1:49.3 at the Meadowlands and equaled history’s fastest mile by a 3-year-old filly (1:49.2) at Lexington’s Red Mile.

Here is the field for the Classic Oaks (trotting mares) with listed drivers: 1. Falls For You, M. MacDonald; 2. Classic Lane, S. Condren; 3. Bruschette, R. Pierce; 4. Hawaiianphotograph, D. Palone; 5. Lavec Dream, L. Ouellette; 6. Summertime Yankee, G. Brennan; 7. Spice Queen, P. MacDonell; 8. Stage Show, T. Ritchie; 9. Up Front Hotsey, J. Campbell. Notable: This is the first time this year that there is only one division of the Oaks. Falls For You has won twice in the series while Summertime Yankee also has a win. Falls For You won last year’s Armbro Flight.

Here is the field for the Pacing Classic (older males) with listed drivers: 1. Lucky Man, B. Forward; 2. Winbak Speed, R. Pierce; 3. Eagle Luck, P. MacDonell; 4. Bigtime Ball, P. MacDonell; 5. Won The West, G. Grismore; 6. Bettor Sweet, J. Campbell; 7. Frog Juice, J. Moiseyev; 8. Riggins, D. Miller. Notable: Frog Juice and Winbak Speed each won a previous leg in the series. Winbak Speed also won the Presidential. Bettor Sweet on May 9 paced the fastest race mile in history by a 4-year-old, winning in 1:47.2 at the Meadowlands. Lucky Man is coming off a second-place finish in the Molson Pace. Won The West was second to Artistic Fella in last year’s Pacing Classic final; he won the American-National and Dan Patch Invitational.

CAMPBELL COMMENTS: John Campbell will be driving several of the likely fan favorites in the Classic Series on Saturday. He offered his thoughts on each.

Corleone Kosmos will be heading into the Trotting Classic off a second-place finish to Lucky Jim in the Arthur J. Cutler Memorial at the Meadowlands. It was Corleone Kosmos’ third start of the campaign, following a seventh-place finish in the Classic Series and third-place effort in his Cutler elimination.

John Campbell

“He’s improved each race, and that’s something you like to see,” Campbell said. “You just can’t expect these horses to be at their very best in their first or second start. They need a little bit of racing to get to that peak level. I look for him to keep getting better and, hopefully, return to the form he had last year.”

Tug River Princess was the 3-year-old pacing filly champion last season and will be making her 2008 debut. She heads into the Classic Distaff off a qualifier at the Meadowlands, where she was second to Mister Big and timed in 1:54.

“I was very happy with her qualifier,” Campbell said. “We were hoping she would get a short field (this weekend) and that’s going to be to her advantage with just the one qualifier. We can race her the way we want and hopefully have her with a good closing kick. She’s bigger and stronger from last year. She’s really filled out and looks good. Her best qualities are attitude and determination. She’s just relentless. She gives you a really good effort every time.”

Bettor Sweet was scratched sick from the Graduate final at the Meadowlands last month just a week after blistering a 1:47.2 mile that was the fastest race by a 4-year-old in history. He heads to the Pacing Classic coming off a 1:52.4 prep in a qualifier in which he covered the last quarter-mile in :26.1.

“I was ecstatic with his (Graduate elim) and all of the connections were disappointed when he had to be scratched,” Campbell said. “He bounced back with a real good qualifier. He’s in very good form right now. As long as he’s over his sickness, he’s going to race well. He was a maiden less than 12 months ago. He could get better, not only as this year goes along, but he is a horse that could come back next year even stronger. He’s catching onto the (mental) part of the equation. He is the type of horse I think will improve a lot from his 4-year-old to 5-year-old year.”

Up Front Hotsey was second to Falls For You in last year’s Armbro Flight, losing by a neck. She won at the Meadowlands on May 22 in 1:53.1, establishing the best victory time of her career.

“She’s had a tough time dealing with those top trotting mares before, but she was as good as she’s ever been in her last race,” Campbell said. “It’s just a question whether she can step up and compete with those top mares. (Starting from post nine) compromises her a little bit because she’s better when she tracks horses and don’t have to use her the first half.”