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Friday, April 17, 2015

BARTLETT WINS MANY RACES THURSDAY

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Thursday, April 16, 2015—When the track’s leading driver wins many races, it’s not exactly a case of man bites dog.  That said, when the track’s leading driver wins half the races on the card, we are lawfully obligated to acknowledge the feat.

Jason Bartlett did just that Thursday night, winning six of Yonkers Raceway’s dozen dashes.

Bartlett’s first win came—fittingly—in the first race, taking the $11,000, pacing opener with odds-on Bazillion ($2.40) in 1:54.4.

After finishing second (by a nose) in the second, Bartlett won the next five races, chronologically…

--3rd ($11,000 pace), Mach This Way ($5.10) in a first-win-of-season 1:54.4;
            --4th ($11,000 pace), My Spring Fling ($3.90) in a season’s-best 1:56.2;
--5th ($11,000 pace), Denyittotheend ($5.30) in 1:56.4;
--6th ($15,500 pace), Rockin’ Rambaran ($4.60) in a life-best 1:53.4;
--7th ($16,500 pace), Classy Lane Rose ($5.10) in a first-win-of-season 1:55.1.

The streak ended with a tiring third-place finish in the eighth race, then sixth in the ninth, second in the 10th, fourth in the 11th and a snapped-late second in the 12th-race finale.

Bartlett’s (“All of the horses were well-placed”) six-pack gave him 133 local wins for the season.


The Raceway’s live season continues Friday (fifth round of Blue Chip Matchmaker) and Saturday (fifth round of George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series), first post each night at 7:10 PM). Evening simulcasting accompanies all nighttime programs, with afternoon simulcasting available daily.