BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Monday, June 17, 2019—Jason Bartlett, perennially Yonkers Raceway’s leading
driver, used his home away from home for his latest milestone.
Bartlett racked up
career win No. 8,000 Monday night (June 17th), easily knocking off
the four victories needed to reach the plateau.
He won the $15,000
pacing opener with favored Lounatic ($4.40) in a life-best 1:55, then the
$18,000, third-race pace with odds-on Topville Angelina ($2.30) in 1:54.1. That
matched the ma’am’s life-best effort.
Bartlett was
making short work of the $15,000, seventh-race pace as odds-on Passa-Grille
Beach ($3.30) widened to 8¾ lengths in a life-best 1:53.1.
He had to wait all of two races before turning over the odometer, getting No.
8,000 in the $25,000, ninth-race pace with Charm’s Lil Sis ($9.30) in another
life-best effort, this one in 1:54.1. The milestone miss is a homebred
4-year-old daughter of Mach Three owned and Millar Farms and trained by Scott
Blackler.
The same owner/driver/trainer troika combined to win last month’s Lismore here
with the 3-year-old pacing filly Bestseller Hanover.
“It’s nice to do
it here (Yonkers), with my family able to join me,” Bartlett said. “I want to
race here as often as I can, especially Fridays and Saturdays, since the money
is so good.”
Bartlett isn’t an
every-night local fixture, as he makes the rounds for New York Sire Stakes and
some open-stakes engagements.
“I went to
Northfield a couple of Saturdays ago (for the Battle of Lake Erie),” he said.
“I had the chance to drive Jimmy Freight. He’s a special horse and I enjoyed
it, but I prefer Yonkers as often as possible.
“When I first came
down here for good, I had maybe 2,000 wins, so to win as many as I have driving
against the best there is, I appreciate that.
The 38–year-old
Bartlett, a native of Augusta, ME, is trying for a ninth local driving title.
“Just thanking all
the owners and trainers that have supported me and keep going.”
Yonkers’ Monday
Pick 5 wager, which began with a carryover in excess of $4,100 and a $15,000
guaranteed pool, enticed $35,108 of new coin.
A combination in
the gimmick of 5/3/2/6/2 returned $1,966.75 for every correct half-dollar
ticket.
Tuesday’s (June 18th)
Pick 5 offers with a $10,000 guaranteed pool (50-cent base wager, races 7
through 11).
