Yonkers: Grand slam propels Jason Bartlett to career win 8,000
Jason Bartlett, perennially Yonkers Raceway’s leading driver, used his home away from home for his latest milestone. Bartlett racked up career win number 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 1/5. That matched her life-best effort. Bartlett would then grab number 7,999 in the $15,000 seventh race pace as odds-on Passa-Grille Beach ($3.30) widened to 8 3/4 lengths in a life-best 1:53 1/5.
He had to wait all of two races before turning over the odometer, getting number 8,000 in the $25,000 ninth race pace with Charms Lil Sis ($9.30) in another life-best effort, this one in 1:54 1/5. 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 at Yonkers 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, Maine, is trying for a ninth local driving title.
“Just thanking all the owners and trainers that have supported me and keep going,” he closed by saying.
--press release (Yonkers Raceway)--