by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director at Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Jason Bartlett won half of Yonkers Raceway’s dozen Saturday (July 2) night races, including both $45,000 Open Handicaps.

Chris Brokate photo

Mach It So proves why he was the post-time favorite at Yonkers Raceway on July 2.

Pole-sitting, odds-on Mach It So ($2.80) was a handy winner in the week’s featured pace, whipping Santa Fe Beachboy (Brian Sears) by a length-and-a-quarter in a two-speed, 1:51 number. Somewhere in L A (George Brennan) was a non-threatening third.

Five races later, Bartlett and Major Athens ($6.80) overcame an assigned outside seven-hole in the week’s marquee trot. Leaving into a convenient three-hole, the pair engaged, then overtook, Allerage Star (Sears) in 1:54. The final margin was widening 3-3/4 lengths. Luminosity (Brennan), at just over even-money, lost touch with the leaders and wound up third, beaten six lengths.

Special Saturday props to Great Vintage (Dan Dube, $8.50), who became the sport’s newest millionaire ($ 1,004,748) while being left alone on the lead in the $35,000, winners-over pace (1:52). The 8-year-old son of American Ideal was making his 122nd career start.