Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Saturday Night at The Big M

June 28, 2008

Corleone Kosmos coasted to a 1:52.2 victory in the $200,000 Titan Cup on Saturday night at the Meadowlands. Eric Goodell settled Corleone Kosmos in third as the field rounded the first turn, then hustled him to the front as they made their way down the backstretch. Corleone

Kosmos opened up by four lengths in the stretch and was never in danger as Arch Madness closed behind him. Corleone Kosmos paid $7.60 to win the ninth race.

"I looked back and Brian [Sears and Arch Madness] was gapping back there pretty good," Goodell said. "At the head of the stretch, I wanted to get away from him and it worked out. He's [trainer Ross Croghan] put me on a few good horses lately and I appreciate it."

Rudolph and Owen's Corleone Kosmos has now won 15 of 38 career starts and $1,144,585. He captured the $200,000 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial earlier in the season. Ross Croghan trains the 6-year-old SJ's Photo-Rose Street Gal gelding.

"He's been a troubled horse in his career, but these days he's a really easy horse to train," Croghan said. "He comes to the racetrack and he puts his game face on, and the whole thing with him is keeping his cool.

Arch Madness appeared to take a step backward after his impressive 1:52.1 win in the Titan Cup Prep last week.

"He didn't seem himself tonight," said his driver, Brian Sears. "He was not nearly as aggressive tonight and didn't have good footing. Kosmos raced a good race."

Earlier in the evening, Harley D Hanover held off Scape Ghost by a nose to win the $61,710 Jersey Cup for 3-year-old colt pacers in 1:50.4. Driver Yannick Gingras rated Harley D Hanover through fractions of 27.1, 55.4 and 1:23.4 and held a two-length lead at the head of the lane. The overwhelming favorite, Scape Ghost sat fourth the whole way and had too much ground to make up in the stretch. Weekend Gambler was third.

Though it was just his second win of the season, Harley D Hanover has hit the board in 12 of 16 starts and earned $159,680 in 2008. Linda Toscano trains the son of Western Ideal-Hawaiian Jenna for Stake Your Claim Stable and Deborah Kilpe.