by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Jason Bartlett, Yonkers Raceway’s leading driver, won five races on Monday night (April 7) and now stands just two victories away from 2,000 in his career.

Bartlett, participating in all but one of the dozen races, swept the $54.50 “deuces wild” early daily double with the pacer Build A Fire ($7.80) and the trotter Kay’s Hall ($7.20). He handily won the third with the pacer Let’s Roll Joe ($4.20), then prevailed from the pocket in the sixth race pace with Molly Angel ($7.20).

Bartlett’s quintet — his second of the season here — was completed when B J’s Tsunami ($12) lasted in the 10th race pace.

He concluded Monday with 89 local wins this season, eight more than perennial Yonkers’ champ Stephane Bouchard.

Bartlett, a native of Augusta, Maine, who turns 27 later this month, comes off his two best seasons, winning 928 races and more than $2.4 million in purses between 2006 and 2007. Bartlett is set to join another Yonkers’ regular, Pat Berry, who last month also won his 2,000th career race — albeit in Jersey.

Yonkers offers a five-night-per-week live harness schedule, with first post every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:40 p.m. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting around the NYRA schedule.