When your rated the seventh best pacer in your three-year-old season (2007), much is expected
. The horse is Two Twentytwo, and his owner is Dominic Colarusso, Jr.
“He (Two Twentytwo) drew the rail for the North America Cup at Mohawk”, said Colarusso. “We had to scratch him the morning of the race”.
A bowed tendon followed, and unexpectedly his three-year-old season was over.
Fast forward to 2010, and after two years off, Two Twentytwo, under the guidance of trainer Rich Mays, qualified on April 30, at Buffalo Raceway in 2:00.1. In his first race back since his sophomore year, Two Twenty Two went wire-to-wire in 1:58.1, with reinsman Kevin Cummings in the sulky.
Driver Jamie Dunlap took the controls for his next race on May 15, and the Blissful Hall chestnut, went wire-to-wire again in 1:57.3, last quarter in :28.1. The buzz at the racetrack was starting, and Two Twentytwo was quickly becoming a fan favourite.
“I get tears in my eyes when I see him coming down the stretch,” said Colarusso as he watched Two Twentytwo win for the third time this year. “People don’t realize what a great broodmare Marvelous Helen was. I’ve got his (Two Twentytwo) full brother, and have my fingers crossed.”
Saturday’s race was a little different, as Dunlap took the pacer back and settled in fourth as Robin Of Locksley cut the early fractions, :29 to the quarter, and :58 to the half. Dunlap pulled Two Twentytwo first over just before the half, and going down the backstretch the second time had the lead when the duo hit the three-quarters in 1:27.2. Two Twenty Two won in 1:56.3 and beat second-place finisher Market Value (Jimmy Whisman) by more than five lengths.
The name Two Twentytwo came about when the foal was born on February 22, which just so happens to be Dominic’s father’s (Dominic Colarusso, Sr.) birthday.
One thing is for sure, with the horse’s striking beauty, the oohs and ahs will continue whenever Two Twentytwo is racing.
(Buffalo Raceway)