by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — Corleone Kosmos, the 2008 Breeders Crown Trot champion, returns to action for the first time since July when he faces five foes Wednesday (April 6) in the $14,000 winners over handicap at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park. Hampered and eventually sidelined by a variety of minor issues, Corleone Kosmos won one of 11 races last year.

“He’s super so far,” said Tom Haughton, who trains the 9-year-old trotter in Florida for owners Arthur Rudolph, the Rudolph Stables, and Bernard Owen. “He’s sounder than I’ve seen him in about four years. Maybe he’s heading for a nice season again.

“Last year he had all little nagging things. I think he just needed a little more time. He had plenty of time. I jogged him today and he was almost perfect.”

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Corleone Kosmos was a 1:51.4 winner in the 2008 Breeders Crown at Mohawk.

The late-blooming Corleone Kosmos has won 20 of 63 career races and earned $1.94 million. In addition to his Breeders Crown victory, he won the Trotting Classic in 2008 and 2009 and captured the 2007 Nat Ray Invitational.

Corleone Kosmos is racing at Pompano Park for the first time since his 5-year-old season in 2007. He has won three of four lifetime races at the track. On March 26, Corleone Kosmos won a qualifier at Pompano in 1:55.4 for his only prep race for Wednesday’s start.

“He doesn’t need that much,” said Haughton, who will drive the horse Wednesday. “He’s ready to do anything right now. He looks fantastic. I’m just hoping he stays cool. He gets all nerved up when he races, like a Thoroughbred more than a Standardbred.”

If all goes well, Corleone Kosmos might make one more start in Florida before heading north for his stakes schedule.

“We’re really just trying to take it race by race,” said Bryan Owen, the ownership group’s spokesman. “He’s either going to be a top-end horse or he’s going to retire. There’s not going to be any in between.

“It seems that physically the horse is better than he’s been in years. He seems to be in a general better mood and comfortable. A lot of times when you give them a rest like we gave him, the little stuff goes away. He seems to be sound, which is the only reason we’re pushing forward with this. We may shock some people.”

Haughton thinks Corleone Kosmos can return to championship form, particularly because he has been raced lightly during his career. The horse has never started more than 14 times in a year.

“I don’t see any reason why he can’t do it,” Haughton said. “He hasn’t raced that much in his life and he loves to do it. He just acts like a young horse right now.”