Vernon: Bartlett rolls a five in New York Excelsior Series finals

Driver Jason Bartlett closed out the New York-sired stakes season in style on Friday night at Vernon Downs by winning five of the eight $55,000 Excelsior Series finals for rookies and sophomores of both gaits and sexes.

Bartlett captured the 2-year-old filly pace with Fashion Terror (by Huntsville and paid $3.50 to win as part of an entry) in 1:53 2/5 for trainer Mark Ford and owner/breeder All Star Racing, the 2-year-old filly trot with Inn Of The Stars (by Chapter Seven, bred by Winbak Farm, paid $4.10 to win) in 1:57 for trainer John Butenschoen and owner Bay Pond Racing Stable, the 3-year-old male trot with It Wasnt Me (by Chapter Seven, bred by Crawford Farms, paid $4.80 to win) in 1:54 2/5 for trainer Michelle Warner and owner Big Sky Ranch, the 2-year-old male pace with Invictus (by Huntsville, bred by James Crawford IV, paid $3.20 to win) in 1:53 for trainer Rolie Mallar and owner Jeffrey Nanna and the 3-year-old male pace with Escape To America (by American Ideal, paid $2.30 to win) in 1:51 4/5 for trainer Deborah Daguet and owners/breeders John Darrah and Lawrence Keethe.

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Also connecting multiple times were driver Matt Kakaley and trainer Travis Alexander. They teamed up to take the 2-year-old male trot with Habanero Blues (by E L Titan, paid $6.40 to win) in 1:56 4/5 for owner/breeder Fiddler's Creek Stables LLC. and the 3-year-old filly trot with Nymeria (paid Chapter Seven, bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc., paid $2.80 to win) in 1:54 for co-owners Alexander M Spacc Stable, Fiddler's Creek Stables LLC., Tar Heel Racing and Lone Wolf Stable.

Completing the Excelsior Series champions for 2024 was 3-year-old pacing filly Tempville, who was a 1:52 1/5 victor for driver Jordan Stratton and trainer George Ducharme. The Hanover Shoe Farms-bred daughter of Huntsville is owned by Purple Haze Stables LLC. and returned $3.50 to win as part of an entry.