The four $353,710 Classic Series finals including the Trotting Classic, the Classic Distaff, the Classic Oaks and the Pacing Classic were contested on Saturday night

at Mohawk Racetrack with trainer Darren McCall sweeping half of the divisions. John Campbell also doubled up driving two winners in the series - one of which was for McCall.

Corleone Kosmos Cruises To Trotting Classic Win

Corleone Kosmos made short work of a quality field of mature trotters tonight to capture the $353,710 Trotting Classic at Mohawk in 1:53.1

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Misterizi and Rick Zeron made the early lead in this, the first of four Classic finals, with Dave Miller and Arch Madness following. But Miller had trouble holding an aggressive Arch Madness and soon elected to clear, in a first quarter time of :27.1. Arch Madness then led the field through fractions of :56.4 and 1:25.3, with the even-money favourite, Corleone Kosmos, biding his time back in fourth. Linesman John Campbell put his charge on the move through the far turn, and by the head of the stretch Corleone Kosmos had looked Arch Madness in the eye and swept on by, with last year’s surprise divisional winner, Chick N Tell (Mike Saftic) in his wake. Corleone Kosmos crossed the wire a length to the good with Chick N Tell second and Arch Madness hanging on for third.

Driver John Campbell commented, “I knew I was going to be first-over (from the middle of the pack and) I wasn’t so happy about that … but when the time came to move I had to move him. He was stronger than he was last week, I think he had some time to get acclimated and he just trotted through the stretch stronger than he did last week.

“I knew he was going to get past Arch Madness. I didn’t know what was behind us at that point. But he felt a lot stronger and had the bit in his mouth at the head of the stretch this week, whereas last week he didn’t have that punch that he normally has.

“He’s got some more aches and pains now (at seven years of age) and he’s had a lot of fast miles over the past three years. You know, he’s raced at such a high level, it’s taken its toll. But if he gets in contention, he’s got a nose for the wire and he’s dead game, you’ve got to give him credit for that. He’s been a fun horse to drive for the past three years. He’s got some quirks about him but you know that going in. Besides making a lot of money, he’s just been a fun horse to drive.”

Corleone Kosmos, a gelded son of S Js Photo, is trained by Darren McCall for Arthur Rudolph, Rudolph Stables, and Bernard Owen. This was his first win in five starts in 2009, and his 19th, career-wise. The lion’s share of the purse pushes his total earnings to just shy of $2 million.

Classic Lane Takes Classic Oaks In Squeaker

Much the way Mine That Bird scooted up the rail to capture the Kentucky Derby this May, four-year-old Classic Lane hugged the pylons tonight for driver Steve Condren, to overtake Falls For You and triumph in the $353,710 Classic Oaks final tonight by a whisker.

Paul MacDonell sent Spice Queen, who was second in last week’s divisional edition of this series, to the front off the gate, with last week’s winner Classic Lane riding the pocket through the first turn and Up Front Hotsey (John Campbell) tucked in third. It wasn’t long before Mark MacDonald hustled favourite, Falls For You, to the front, and Spice Queen found herself third behind Classic Lane, who continued to draft through the backstretch. Falls For You experienced first-over pressure from Up Front Hotsey as the field entered the lane, but it was Classic Lane who vanquished her with an inside move expertly engineered by Condren, who carved out just enough space to squeeze through at the wire in 1:53.3, a new lifetime best.

A late rush from Spice Queen on the outside was enough for second by the barest of noses, and the sandwiched Falls For You ended up third.

“It looked like I had enough room there till about part-way down the stretch, then it got a little tight there through the lane so I had to wait it out. I just had enough at the last end to have a little surge and get up by a nose,” explained a deadpan Condren.

“It was too close to call – I thought she got beat – but it worked out we won another photo, which is kind of nice. Mr. Lohmeyer’s a good guy, and the Tuckers, so I’m very happy for them, and it works out good for me too.”

This was the third consecutive win for Classic Lane, a four-year-old daughter of Lindy Lane, out of the Superbowl mare, Heartland Classic. She is trained by Ed Lohmeyer for Robert and Lauren Tucker of New Jersey, and the win boosts her bankroll over the $500,000 mark.

Southwind Tempo Stellar In Classic Distaff

World champion Southwind Tempo used a stirring stretch kick to capture the $353,710 Classic Distaff for older pacing mares on Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack.

The five-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight - Tsunami Hanover got away second to last in the seven-horse field for driver Jody Jamieson and watched as A And Gs Confusion and driver David Miller carved out fractions of :26.2, :55.2 and 1:22.4.

At the top of the stretch, Jamieson found himself behind excess cover, sitting seventh and last on the outside. Southwind Tempo showed her class, however, and blasted past rivals with a blistering :26-second final quarter to stop the clock in 1:50. She was two lengths better than runner-up Tug River Princess with Hana Hanover landing the show spot.

Darren McCall conditioned both of the top two finishers, including Southwind Tempo who was winning for the fourth time in seven outings this season. The winner’s share of the purse vaulted her over $1,660,000 lifetime for owners Jerry Silva and Let It Ride Stables Inc. of Delray Beach, Florida.

Bettor Sweet Delivers A Sweet Mile In Pacing Classic

Even-money favourite, Bettor Sweet, didn’t disappoint tonight as he delivered a 1:48.2 victory in the $353,710 Pacing Classic final at Mohawk.

Won The West and Greg Grigmore were quickest off the wings as the field of nine mature pacers got underway, with longshot Allamerican Idol (Luc Ouellette) on Grismore’s helmet, and second choice Winbak Speed (Ron Pierce) tucking comfortably into third. Pierce didn’t linger long, however, before hitting the throttle and sending Winbak Speed to clear as the field hit the backstretch. Won The West inherited the pocket spot and held onto it through a 1:21.4 third quarter, with Riggins and Dave Miller moving up from the backfield to stalk the leaders.

As the pacers entered the stretch, John Campbell sent Bettor Sweet into fifth gear to deliver the predicted duel between his gelding and Winbak Speed. The two locked horns for a blistering :26.3 final panel, with Bettor Sweet finally wearing down his rival and poking a head in front. He went on to claim the victory, with Winbak Speed three-quarters of a length behind. Riggins slipped up for third.

The 1:48.2 mile was Canada’s fastest so far this year.

“(Bettor Sweet) races better off the pace, but he doesn’t need cover,” said Campbell. “I wanted to get head-and-head with Winbak Speed. I didn’t want anyone between him and myself, because I thought my horse could pace home even off that (first-over) trip.

“At the head of the stretch my horse was still pacing hard. I thought he was going to win at the head of the stretch. I wasn’t really surprised (at the time for the mile); he’s been in 1:47 and a piece and it’s not that warm tonight.”

Joe Poliseno trains Bettor Sweet, a four-year-old gelded son of Bettors Delight, for John Cancelliere of Clark, New Jersey.

“He likes it first over. He likes to get out and roll,” said Poliseno. “He had a pretty easy week leading up to this. I didn’t do much with him because he was coming off sickness. He raced really well last week, so I was confident he could win tonight.

“He’s definitely the best horse I’ve trained. If everything stays good with him, you’ll see him back up here for the Canadian Pacing Derby.”

This was his third win of 2009 in 10 starts, and boosts his earnings over the half-million mark.

To view Saturday's results, click here.

(With files from WEG)