Yonkers, NY — Jason Bartlett had six consecutive victories on Wednesday night (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 $30,000.
All of Bartlett’s series victories came with Per Engblom trainees, as they connected with 4-year-old Greenshoe gelding Green Pastures ($11.60) to win in 1:56.1 for VIP Internet Stable, Engblom Stable, R A W Equine Inc. and Marco Greico; 7-year-old Bold Eagle mare Golden Rain S ($3.20 ), in 1:55.1 for Engblom Stable and Thomas Lind-Holm; and 6-year-old Whataworkout gelding Cantstop Yankee ($9.10), in 1:56.1 for owner-breeder Kapildeo Singh.
The only horse able to derail the Bartlett-Engblom combo (they were second) in the Brennan was 5-year-old Father Patrick gelding Antognoni S, who connected in 1:55.2 for owner-driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Ron Burke and co-owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and FAC Racing.
Named in honor of the longtime Standardbred Owners Association of New York horsepeople’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 guaranteed final and $50,000 guaranteed consolation on April 23.
SECOND LEGS OF MATCHMAKER & BORGATA SET: On Friday (April 4), four $50,000 second-round splits 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 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 this 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 USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program.
MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday-through-Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m. (EDT).