by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

East Rutherford, NJ — Corleone Kosmos and driver John Campbell were the winners of the $300,000 Nat Ray Invitational Trot on Saturday afternoon at The Meadowlands in a career best time of 1:51.2.

USTA Photo

Corleone Kosmos won the $300,000 Nat Ray Invitational Trot on Saturday afternoon at The Meadowlands in a career best time of 1:51.2.

Corleone Kosmos was sitting well off the early pace set by Majestic Son (Trevor Ritchie), who hit the quarter in :26.4, followed by Jaded (Orjan Kihlstrom) and San Remo Kosmos (Tim Tetrick). Majestic Son held the lead to the :55 half, with Jaded still in pursuit and Corleone Kosmos now up in third. At the 1:23.1 three-quarters, Majestic Son was still on the lead, with Corleone Kosmos inheriting second place behind him after a break by Jaded in the turn.

Campbell and Corleone Kosmos stayed tucked in behind Majestic Son through the turn until the field straightened for home, then tipped out and trotted by the leader with about an eighth of a mile to go to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.2. The time bettered his lifetime mark by a fifth of a second.

Equinox Bi (Mike Lachance) closed to be second, San Remo Kosmos (Tim Tetrick) was third and Vivid Photo (Roger Hammer) was fourth. Med Vac was fifth, followed by Flamewalker, Majestic Son, Swan Image, Man About Town, Sand Vic, Jaded and Giant Diablo.

“I was actually three-wide in the first turn and had to use him to get two-wide at the quarter,” said winning driver John Campbell. “From then on, he was first-over, which I really didn’t like, but he was able to fall in behind Majestic Son around the last turn and that made all the difference. He got on the bit and was anxious to pass when he got on Trevor’s back. He went a big mile today, maybe his best ever. I wasn’t sure I was going to catch him (Majestic Son) until I got back behind him and then I knew he’d give me a good run in the stretch.”

Tim Tetrick, who started the day with 719 wins for 2007, drove the third-place finisher San Remo Kosmos. “He was real good. Mark (trainer Silva) had him ready. I kept him close and got out late and he was right there. He’s a hard knocking horse.”

Corleone Kosmos is owned by Arthur Rudolph, the Rudolph Stables and Bernard Owen of New York. Ross Croghan trains. The horse is expected to point for the Breeders Crown over Labor Day weekend.