In-form Bartlett bags four

Harness racing driver Jason Bartlett continued his good form with four winners at Yonkers Raceway on Wednesday, his third day with more than three wins in July.

The Goshen-based driver opened his nightly account with a victory aboard Andres Hanover ($40.60) in the third race. Bartlett glued his charge to the pylons throughout, and the gelding exploded in late stretch to win by a nose in 1:54. It was the horse’s first victory of the year in four starts. He is a sophomore son of Betting Line with two trips to the winner’s circle in nine career outings. Andrew Harris trains and co-owns via his A Harris Racing LLC with Michael Goldberg Racing LLC.

ANDRES HANOVER REPLAY

Bartlett then went back-to-back in the fifth with Southwind Petyr, who quarter-poled to the front and led every step after at 1/5 in 1:52.4, and sixth with Flaming Flutter N, who won in 1:53.2 with a similar trip. Mark Harder of Freehold trains and shares ownership of Southwind Petyr, a three-year-old American Ideal colt, with Rick Phillips of Tappan. It was the horse’s fourth lifetime win in 15 tries, and his earnings now total $160,354.

SOUTHWIND PETYR REPLAY

Flaming Flutter N ($3.80), a 12-year-old stallion, notched his 30th career victory from 144 starts and increased his earnings to $727,896. Team Tritton Inc. owns the son of Bettors Delight, and Shane Tritton trains him.

FLAMING FLUTTER N REPLAY

Bartlett completed his grand slam with a confident steer aboard Gardys Legacy A ($2.80) in the 11th. He sent the favourite to the front and made four left turns to a 1:53.3 score. Bowie Racing LLC and A Harris Racing LLC purchased the horse from Australian owners in March. The five-year-old Andrew Harris-trained son of Bettors Delight has since won two of seven starts. His bankroll totals $109,674 from 27 career starts, 11 of which he won.

GARDYS LEGACY A REPLAY

Bartlett is now clicking at about 20 per cent this month, a significant improvement from his pre-July rate of 12 per cent. He also won two dashes at Pocono Downs earlier in the day before travelling about 130 miles to the Hilltop. He is third in the drivers’ standings at Yonkers with 111 tallies on the season. Jordan Stratton, who recorded a triple on Tuesday, leads with 160 total wins this season to date. George Brennan has 141 victories in second.

Also on the card, Yonkers declared the fourth race non-wagering due to a tote malfunction which allowed bets to be placed during the race. About $93,160 was refunded, and multi-race wagers that involved the race paid out to all in the corresponding leg. Branquinho, a five-year-old Raymond Schnittker-trained-and-owned Somebeachsomehwere entire won the contest in 1:52.4 with Tyler Buter at the controls.

Yonkers Raceway will return with racing action on Wednesday, Jul. 7. The 12-race program will commence at 7:15 p.m. EDT.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink