Colorado Joe has developed into a special horse for first-time owner Joe Mucci.

After sitting out his two and three-year-old seasons, the homebred male trotter has roared onto the scene at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows by winning five consecutive races following a fourth-place finish in his career debut on Jan. 8. The horse is named after the 20-year-old Mucci, with a nod to the first truck he ever owned, a Chevy Colorado.

On Thursday, March 6, Colorado Joe — bred by Mucci’s father Thomas — will attempt to make it six victories in a row when he meets six rivals in the second of two $10,000 USD first-round divisions of the Dale McConnell Memorial Series for three and four-year-old male trotters at The Meadows. The Andy Rickert-trained gelding will leave from post five with regular driver Hunter Myers and is the 9-5 morning-line favourite.

All five of Colorado Joe’s triumphs have come by at least 1-3/4 lengths. Three have been by at least three lengths, including his 1:57.2 score by 3-3/4 lengths on Feb. 26 in a $16,429 conditioned trot at The Meadows.

“There were no expectations,” Mucci said about Colorado Joe heading into his first season of racing. “We were going to give him two months and see how he did. For him to win five in a row, that was a shocker.

“He didn’t race at two and three because he needed time to grow and mature. Those years off seemed to do this horse well and Andy has done a great job with him. He’s a four-year-old who is still green, but it seems like he’s getting better. He’s got potential, but he’s still learning. We won’t know how good he is until he gets pushed a little harder. We’ll see.”

Mucci, a former standout golfer at Sewickley Academy near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, decided to take a swing at horse ownership this past November and took ownership of Colorado Joe so he could get an owner’s license. He also purchased a trotting filly, Joys Sunshine, with trainer Greg Wright Jr. at last fall’s Standardbred Horse Sale.

“My dad has been in harness racing for a while,” said Mucci. “I grew up watching them race and I just enjoy it. I’m starting to get into it. They always laugh that I think it’s easy now because Colorado Joe has won so many. I’ll take it slow. I’d like to claim a couple, put them back in and see where it takes me.”

Mucci, who is director of business development for his father’s company, Eagle Industrial Tools and Supplies, will be content to limit his participation in racing to ownership. He has no intentions of trying his hand at training or driving.

“No, this will be it, being an owner,” he said with a laugh. “It’s stressful enough just watching without actually doing it.”

Colorado Joe, a son of Creatine-Whambamthankumaam, has given Mucci a bit of family bragging rights thanks to his winning form.

“I like to get on my dad because the most he ever won with a horse was three in a row a couple of times,” Mucci said with a laugh. “Winning five in a row, I have a little swagger.”

Mucci knows the road for Colorado Joe will become more difficult as he continues to race, and the new owner is taking it all in stride.

“We’ll just see what he’s got,” said Mucci. “He really likes to pass horses and that’s always a good sign. Obviously, he’s going to have to get better. He’s in the non-winners [conditions], but he has only six lifetime starts, so hopefully he gets better every week. It’s just a waiting game.”

So far, Colorado Joe has been worth the wait.

The three-week McConnell Memorial Series will continue on March 13 with second-round action before culminating with the March 20 final.

Racing begins at 12:45 p.m. at The Meadows. For a free Thursday program, click here.

(USTA)