Hinsdale, IL — Cordarius Stewart will conclude his breakout year as a driver this weekend at Hawthorne Racecourse. The 29-year-old Mississippi native took advantage of an opportunity to drive the Erv Miller stable’s Midwest division youngsters in Illinois this season and as the old cliche says: “Knocked it out of the park.”

Cordarius Stewart’s engraving of “Cash Deposit” on his helmet was right on the money for the 2023 racing season. Terry Young photo.

This is only the fifth full-time racing season for Cordarius and the likeable young man has come a long way. Two years ago, Stewart had 52 winning drives, in 2023 he’s at 113. His money won has jumped from $359,376 in 2021 to $853,030. His UDR rating has soared from .147 to .318.

It’s one thing to get an opportunity to display your talent, it’s another to rise to the occasion and prove that you belong. Cordarius has done just that.

How did Stewart’s chance to drive for the Miller stable come about?

“I got a phone call from Atlee Bender (Erv’s Midwest division trainer). He said he would be driving the barn’s horses in Indiana this year and asked if I want to handle the stable’s horses in Illinois.”

How long did it take you to answer Atlee?

“Not long, that’s for sure,” said Cordarius laughing. “It was a great opportunity to drive lots of good horses.”

Cordarius had abundant success with the Miller barn’s ICF 3-year-old filly pacer Fox Valley Leah, an Illinois Horse of the Year candidate. He drove and won a division of the ISFCS at Hawthorne, the Pronto Don at Du Quoin and a Cardinal split with the top-notch state-bred trotter Niko Man. Stewart also effectively guided other Miller talented winning youngsters like Fox Valley Durham, The Magical Woman, and Illini Belle, among others.

Then came the opportunity to steer some of the Miller stable’s older horses in Hawthorne Opens, and he won with the Australian bred pacing mare No Win No Feed A, trotters Big Christian and Ponda Adventure, and the Aussie star pacer Ilikemebetter A.

Did one of Miller’s horses stand out to him more than some of the others?

“Not really,” he answered. “There were so many that were so good. Atlee and his wife Hannah would ship them to Illinois fit and ready to go. It was a pleasure to drive them.”

Cordarius’ season’s achievements wasn’t limited to just the Miller stable horses. He won numerous races for Illinois horseman Kevin Miller; he drove the Nelson Willis trained Fox Valley Kodiak to his Incredible Finale stake consolation win and followed that on the same mid-October night by steering the Steve Searle barn’s Honoloulou to her Fox Valley Flan stake consolation triumph.

One of Cordarius’ most memorable drives came with the Carroll Hays trained 6-year-old mare Reign And Shine on Hawthorne’s Night of Champions. Largely ignored at the betting windows at almost 11-1 odds in the $45,000 Carl Becker Memorial for older ICF trotting mares with the likes of Funky Wiggle and Annas Lucky Star in the field, Cordarius sent his trotter out from the outside five slot.

“I knew I wanted to go out with her,” said Cordarius. “She finished strong the week before when one of those mares got the jump on us. “

Reign And Shine was parked out to a quick :28.2 first quarter in the championship by Funky Wiggle but once Cordarius settled his horse in on the front end, he slowed things down with :30.3 and :29.4 middle quarters and his mare’s :28.1 last panel was plenty good enough for a 1:57 victory by more than two lengths.

Cordarius’ nickname by his fellow horsemen is C.D. “It stands for Cash Deposit,” said the Mississippian. No doubt there were some ample deposits made this year.

“I’m leaving after this weekend for Mississippi to see my family. Then it’s off to Florida for the winter to work for the Miller stable.”

Cordarius didn’t have to mention that he’s looking forward to the warmth of Florida over the upcoming blustery winter of northern Illinois.

That was a given.

It’s Goomster Again: The Illinois bred 3-year-old trotter Goomster (Travis Seekman) rolled to his 16th season’s victory Monday night in Hawthorne’s $11,100 Open Trot.

The Desirae Seekman trained gelding took command on the backside and went unchallenged the rest of the 1:55.1 mile. Perlucky (Casey Leonard) was second best, beaten almost two lengths, and Rockyroad Aldo (Robert Smolin) finished third.

Goomster is now 16 for 21 with four seconds in his sophomore campaign and increased his earnings to $158,084 for owner Dennis Gardner.