Jason Bartlett had six consecutive victories on Wednesday, April 2 at MGM Yonkers Raceway, including a trio of tallies in the opening leg of the John Brennan Trotting Series. Each of the series races went for a purse of $42,857.
All of Bartlett's victories in the John Brennan Trotting Series came with Per Engblom trainees, as they connected with four-year-old Greenshoe gelding Green Pastures (paid $11.60 to win) in 1:56.1 for owners VIP Internet Stable LLC., Engblom Stable LLC., R A W Equine Inc. and Marco Greico, seven-year-old Bold Eagle mare Golden Rain S (paid $3.20 to win) in 1:55.1 for owners Engblom Stable LLC. and Thomas Lind-Holm and six-year-old Whataworkout gelding Cantstop Yankee (paid $9.10 to win) in 1:56.1 for owner/breeder Kapildeo Singh.
The only horse able to derail the Bartlett/Engblom combo (they were second) in the John Brennan Trotting Series was five-year-old Father Patrick gelding Antognoni S, who connected in 1:55.2 for co-owner/driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Ron Burke and co-owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC. and Fac Racing LLC.
Named in honour of the longtime SOA of NY horsemen's representative who passed away from complications of COVID-19 in March 2020, the John Brennan Trotting Series has additional prelims on April 9 and April 16 before a $100,000 USD guaranteed final and $50,000 USD guaranteed consolation on April 23.
SECOND LEGS OF MATCHMAKER & BORGATA SET: On Friday, April 4, four $50,000 USD splits of the second round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series will go behind the gate. First leg winners Walkin On Sunshine (post one) and Silk Cloud A (post five) meet up in the second tilt (race four) while the other opening round winners — Factory Girl (post two) and Aardie B Miki N (post five) headline the third (race eight) and fourth tests (race nine), respectively.
The MGM Borgata Pacing Series will then resume on Monday, April 7 with five $50,000 USD divisions. The featured event is race nine where round one winners Verdun (post one), Mossdale Ben N (post six) and Aardies Flash N (post seven) square off. Also looking to improve to two-for-two in the Borgata will be For Once Inmy Life (post one, race seven) and Binge On Yankee (post four, race eight).
PICK 5 POOL GETS A BOOST ON MONDAYS & FRIDAYS: Starting with Friday, April 4 and continuing for every Monday and Friday card during the legs of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series and Blue Chip Matchmaker Series, MGM Yonkers Raceway, in conjunction with the SOA of NY, will offer a $20,000 guaranteed Pick 5 pool in race five.
The guaranteed Pick 5 pool on Mondays is also a part of the U.S. Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Program.
(Yonkers Raceway; photo of Jason Bartlett in a previous win)