Yonkers Raceway’s Leading Driver Jason Bartlett Scores Dozen Wins In First Two Nights Or Racing

Jan. 17, 2012 - PRLog -- Heating up the wintry chill at Yonkers Raceway is one Jason Bartlett, the four-time leading driver who has snared 12 victories in his first 23 starts for a better than .500 win percentage in the first two nights of racing at the historic Hilltop racecourse.

On the comeback trail from a severe ankle sprain which had him sidelined for the last part of the 2011 campaign, the Augusta, Maine native is making up for lost time as the 2012 season got underway on Friday and Saturday nights at the Empire City Casino half mile oval.
Bartlett had captured four straight driving titles at Yonkers from 2008 through 2010 until a determined George Brennan came along last year to usurp him from the Yonkers throne.

Friday the 13th proved to be no problem as Bartlett threw down the gauntlet to the tune of a eight victories for the evening, including the first four races of the season highlighted by that evening's $33,000 co-featured Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace behind Breakheart Pass, and a 31-1 shot in the finale by a nose with You Thrill Me in a thriller.

On Saturday, the Goshen resident picked up right where he left off, winning both legs of the early daily double en route to four victories.

“I've been on good horses and they've been in good spots," Bartlett said. "It's sort of all fallen into place. You just keep going out there and doing your best.  "The ankle's not 100 percent, but sitting in the bike was never the problem, even when I first hurt it (in early December). I'm getting more mobile, but I'm sure it's going to be a while."  

Along with his season ending ankle injury, Bartlett suffered a concussion in a July 4th weekend car accident which had him sidelined for a month. If the start of 2012 is any indication, Jason Bartlett is back on track, and then some.

Yonkers' usual five-night-per-week schedule includes racing on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, with first post for all programs remains at 7:10 PM.

# # #

Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway is located at 810 Yonkers Avenue (at Central Avenue) in Yonkers, New York. Empire City Casino is open seven days a week from 10AM to 2AM. For more information call 914.968.4200 or log onto www.empirecitygaming.com