by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — The connections of Lucky Jim and Corleone Kosmos hope to join a short list of multiple Titan Cup winners, but know it will not be easy with Arch Madness in the field for Saturday’s (July 2) $220,750 edition of the race at Meadowlands Racetrack.

Only two horses have won the Titan Cup more than once since the race moved to the Meadowlands in 1979. Fool’s Goal won the Titan Cup in 2001, 2002 and 2004, and Iris De Vandel captured the race in 1982 and 1983.

Arch Madness won the Titan Cup prep race on June 24 in his first start since returning from Sweden’s Elitlopp. The 7-year-old gelding has won six of seven races this year, including the Oslo Grand Prix, and earned $361,545 for owners Marc Goldberg and Barry Goldstein’s Willow Pond LLC.

Lucky Jim and Corleone Kosmos, as well as Titan Cup entrants Neighsay Hanover and Sir Caviar, did not compete in the prep.

“Arch Madness came back good off his trip,” said Erv Miller, the trainer of Lucky Jim. “He sure raced good the other night.”

“Obviously, Arch Madness was very impressive last week,” said Bryan Owen, the spokesman for Corleone Kosmos’ ownership group. “We have our work cut out for us, for sure.”

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Lucky Jim has earned $1,678,465 in his career with 26 wins in 54 starts.

Lucky Jim was the 2009 Dan Patch Award winner as best older male trotter after winning 17 of 18 races, including the Titan Cup, that season. He won the Invitational on June 17 at the Meadowlands in 1:52.3 for his first victory in four starts this year. He has won 26 of 54 lifetime races and earned $1.67 million for owners David Prushnok, John Prushnok and Bill Gregg.

“Jim trained really good Saturday,” said Miller, who will turn over the driving lines to his brother, Andy, in Saturday’s race. “He was as good as he’s been. Like Andy said, we don’t have to race him a whole lot, just race him enough to keep him tight, because he can go with most of them when he’s OK.”

Lucky Jim has battled foot woes from time to time, so Miller will keep the 6-year-old gelding on a limited schedule.

“I don’t want to race him every week,” Miller said. “He’s had some issues and we don’t want to overdo it. That’s why we gave him last week off and hopefully he’ll be good and sharp this week. He trained liked it Saturday.

“He’s been there before. He showed he’s got as much speed as anybody if he’s healthy, and we’re just trying to keep him healthy and sound. He’s pretty happy and getting along pretty easy.”

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Corleone Kosmos will be making his sixth consecutive appearance in the Titan Cup.

Corleone Kosmos, too, has dealt with his share of minor issues. Last year he was limited to 11 races, winning once, but has bounced back this season to win three of 10 starts and hit the board eight times. He has won 23 of 73 lifetime races and earned $2.04 million for owners Arthur Rudolph, Rudolph Stables and Bernard Owen.

He won the 2008 Titan Cup, defeating Arch Madness by a length. This is his sixth consecutive appearance in the Titan Cup.

“The big thing is that he’s back,” Bryan Owen said. “He’s at the point we hoped to get to, where he legitimately has a shot. He certainly belongs.

“We’re just excited to be in it. I think it says something about the horse when it’s the sixth time in a row to be in the Titan Cup final.”

Arch Madness’ only loss this year came in the Elitlopp. He won his elimination race before finishing sixth in the same-day final on May 29 at Solvalla.

“It’s really a shame he tied up in the Elitlopp because he had a real chance to win,” trainer Trond Smedshammer said. “You don’t get those opportunities very often.”

Following is the field in post position order for Saturday’s $220,750 Titan Cup for older trotters, with listed drivers and trainers: 1. Four Starz Speed, Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke; 2. Corleone Kosmos, David Miller, Ross Croghan; 3. Buck I St Pat, Tim Tetrick, Burke; 4. Lucky Jim, Andy Miller, Erv Miller; 5. Slave Dream, David Miller, Frank O’Reilly; 6. Arch Madness, Brian Sears, Trond Smedshammer; 7. Pilgrims Chuckie, Mike Lachance, Thomas Cancelliere; 8. Neighsay Hanover, Lachance, Ray Schnittker; 9. Sir Caviar, Ron Pierce, Leslie Zendt.