by
john manzi for Historic Track
Goshen
Historic Track kicked off its 53rd season of matinee racing on
Sunday afternoon, June 7. On tap were 11 short- field races, many filled with 2
year olds making their first lifetime starts behind a mobile starting gate, and
even a few events for older horses.
Yonkers
Raceway’s leading driver Jason Bartlett, who lives in Goshen, was on hand to
drive in six races eventually winning five, including a track record
performance by Hot List who scorched the double-oval in a time of 1:54.4.
“We
were just sitting in the grandstand enjoying the beautiful weather ,the races
and the race calls by the pupils who attended the Tom Durkin announcer school
earlier in the day,” noted track board of directors president, Steve Jones. “In
one of the last races on the card, a three-horse race mind you, Jason Bartlett
took the lead with Hot List and were easy winners and unexpectedly they set a
new track record in the process. Go figure.”
Hot
List, a 7-year-old Daughter of McArdle owned by Dominic Rosato and trained by
Arnold Marks, had already made 14 starts this season winning three times, the
fastest, in 1:52.1. Her 1:54.4 mile here today established a new Historic
Track track record for older pacing mares erasing the former standard of
1:56.3 set in 2009 by QuicksilvercandyA and driver Larry Stalbaum.
The
most impressive mile turned in by a freshman was a 2:01.1 clocking by No Shame
Blue Chip which is believed to be a seasons record for a 2-year-old pacing
gelding on a half mile track.
The
altered son of American Ideal-Mariah Blue Chip driven by Jason Bartlett is
owned by Blue Chip Bloodstock and trained by Janice Connor.
Matinee
races will continue on the consecutive Sundays of June14 and June 21 at the
world’s oldest harness track. Grand Circuit races commences Thursday, July 2.
