Ken Weingartner

Hightstown, NJ — Joemikiyoursofine was lightly raced last season as a 2-year-old because of sickness and immaturity, but if he can blossom into a stakes-level performer like stablemate Western Joe and half-brother Fourever Boy, his connections will think he’s even better than fine.

A 3-year-old male pacer trained by Chris Choate, Joemikiyoursofine has finished no worse than second in six of eight career starts, winning three, for owners Anthony Ruggeri and Richard Tosies. His connections have staked him to many of the sport’s top events for sophomore colts and geldings, but the focus now is on seeing continued improvement from the son of Always B Miki-Macharoundtheclock.

Joemikiyoursofine has finished no worse than second in six of eight career starts, winning three. Photo courtesy of Anthony Ruggeri.

Joemikiyoursofine didn’t make it to the races until mid-October last year. He competed in five conditioned events, winning two and finishing second once. This season, he has started three times in the Bobby Weiss Series for 3-year-old male pacers at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, posting a victory and two seconds to advance to Saturday’s (April 29) $50,000 final.

“We hit a few speed bumps with him last year,” Choate said. “He got sick a couple times right as we were getting ready to qualify him, and he was very immature, very green. We raced him a few times and we were happy with him. He wasn’t overly impressive, but he had some good starts for us at 2.

“We gelded him and turned him out for a few months and his attitude was much better this year. He blossomed a little bit (physically) and he looks a lot better training and racing. I’m happy with the way he’s been going so far.”

Joemikiyoursofine is still finding his way, though, which was evident in his second-place finish to Binge On Yankee in the second round of the Weiss. Sitting second behind the eventual winner, driver Matt Kakaley moved Joemikiyoursofine coming off the last turn only to lose touch with the leader. “Joe” regained momentum in the stretch but lost by a neck.

“Matt angled him out and he blew the turn a little bit,” Choate said. “It may have cost him the race, not sure. Matt said he was just a little green. He’s still got some learning to do.”

Joemikiyoursofine is eligible to the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, which begins May 6, but could begin by competing in the lower-level Stallion Series. It is something Choate did with Western Joe when he was a 3-year-old before sending the horse into Grand Circuit action. Western Joe, still active at age 9, has earned $1.05 million in his career, with his top victory coming in the 2018 Sam McKee Memorial over season-end Horse of the Year McWicked.

“The sire stakes will be tough,” Choate said. “Not that he doesn’t deserve a shot at it, but the Stallion (series) might be a little better for him. We can get him some easier races before the bigger ones come up later. Hopefully he can do some good and work his way up. We’re going to take it week by week with him and see how he does.”

Joemikiyoursofine was purchased as a yearling for $90,000 at the 2021 Standardbred Horse Sale. Photo courtesy of Anthony Ruggeri.

Originally named Clockwise, Joemikiyoursofine was purchased as a yearling for $90,000 at the 2021 Standardbred Horse Sale. His half-brother Fourever Boy was the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion last year at age 3. He also won a division of the Simcoe Stakes and an elimination of the Little Brown Jug before finishing second in the final.

Joemikiyoursofine is eligible to Grand Circuit races such as the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes, Meadowlands Pace, Adios, Little Brown Jug, and Progress Pace this year.

“We’re just hoping that he stays healthy and sound and that we get a good year out of him,” Choate said. “We’ll hope he keeps improving. He’s going to need to if he’s going to go against those guys. They’re only going to go faster and faster.”

First, of course, is the final of the Weiss Series. Joemikiyoursofine will start from post seven in the eight-horse field and is 10-1 on the morning line. Kakaley will be in the sulky.

“I’m not happy with the post, but I’m happy with the way he’s been going,” Choate said. “There are some good ones in there. It’s a nice bunch.

“We’ll see how he does this week, but it’s going to be a difficult journey. It’s going to be tough to get a read on him. I don’t think he’s going to get in the race early because there is too much speed on the inside. We’re probably going to have to race from behind and hopefully something works out.”

All Class, undefeated in his only two starts in the Weiss and a perfect 3-for-3 lifetime, is the 5-2 favorite in Saturday’s final. He will leave from post six with Jason Bartlett driving for trainer Demier Minor.

Saturday begins four days of Weiss finals. For additional information, click here.

For free Pocono past performances, visit the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association website here.