by Nicole Kraft, communications director, U.S. Trotting Association

Columbus, OH — The connections of top older trotter Corleone Kosmos have issued a formal challenge to sophomore trotting sensation Donato Hanover to face off in a match race, to be held after the Breeders Crown at The Meadowlands, with each side putting up $100,000.

The response from trainer Steve Elliott, representing the Donato Hanover camp: “It ain’t happening.”

Trainer Tom Haughton, who broke Corleone Kosmos as a yearling and continues to winter train the stallion, encouraged owners Arthur and Scott Rudolph, and Bernard Owen, to put up the prize. His goal: to prove on the track that their trotter is the best in the land.

“Tommy said, ‘Your horse is the best in the world; let’s challenge Donato and prove it,’” Arthur Rudolph said Tuesday.

In issuing his challenge, Haughton said he and the owners feel that a 3-year-old simply cannot go with the older group.

“That’s like asking the best high school player to go against a pro; a lot of horsemen will tell you that,” said Haughton.

Rudolph acknowledged that the connections of Donato Hanover “could be cautious,” because of the colt’s unblemished 2007 record and the fact he is slated to go to stud after the Breeders Crown, but he hoped they would not be afraid to go toe-to-toe with the 2007 Nat Ray and American-National champion in a race that could be worth $350,000, if The Meadowlands contributed $150,000.

“[Donato Hanover] is a great horse, but Corleone is much stronger,” said Rudolph.

Elliott stressed, however, that fear had nothing to do with the decision not to race Donato Hanover past the Breeders Crown.

“We would have nothing to gain and everything to lose — especially racing for our own money,” Elliott said. “It’s easy to talk like this at the end of the year when the horse is going off to stud. If I wanted to race older horses, I’d race him in the Elitlopp and face all the best horses — not just one who thinks he might be the best.”

Elliott said owner David Scharf may have been “talking through his enthusiasm,” when he pondered the possibility of Donato Hanover racing older horses. Such a contest would not be in the best interest of the investors in Donato Hanover, who purchased him with an eye toward breeding.

“I am supposed to drop him off at Hanover [Shoe Farms] on Dec. 12, and that is where he is going,” said Elliott. “Talk like this is just nonsense. It is in no way in the best interest of the horse.”