Jason Bartlett wins 3 – Secret Garden, Earthwindfire, and Turn On The Charm Score

June 20, 2023

Monticello, NY – The New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) kicked off it 2023 return at Monticello Raceway this afternoon with 3 Year Old Pacing Fillies taking Center Stage. The 9 race card had 3 divisions of Sire Stakes, with each split worth $38,533 and 3 heats of the Excelsior Series racing for $20,000 per division.

In the past, Wally Hennessey ruled the New York Sire Stakes, he then past the torch to Jim Morrill Jr, the new torch bearer is now Jason Bartlett, last year he has the leading Driver in pursues earned with $758,036, this afternoon Bartlett drove 3 winners at Monticello where he has always enjoyed much success

The first heat of Sire Stakes action saw 5 horses go to post, the co-favorite Kissin Joe (PP1) was the first away from the gate, she was on top by 4 at the opening panel of 28, at the half in 57.3 she was up by 3.  B On The Hunt (Stratton) was the first to move down the backside with Kissin Joe still showing the way at 1:26.2. As they turned for home Mark Macdonald and Kissin Joe were still the leader, sitting in perfect position through the mile Secret Garden, she scooted thru on the passing lane to just barely nip the pacesetter at the wire in 1:55 – $7.80, B On The Hunt finished third.  It was the first seasonal win for Secret Garden a daughter of Huntsville for trainer Noel Daley, she was driven to the win by Jason Bartlett, for the first of his 3 winners on the day

Turn On The Charm the 9/5 betting favorite was a wire to wire winner in her heat, starting from the rail she made the front end with ease, she paced an extremely soft opening quarter of 29.3 for driver Marcus Miller.  At the half in 58.4, the favorite Southwind Bella (Pelling) got underway to track the leader. Down the backside the second time around they were pacing in tandem with Southwind Bella on the outside, next panel in 1:27.3.  In a spirited stretch drive Turn on the Charm prevailed by a neck over Southwind Bella in 1:55 – $5.80.  It was her third consecutive win in Sire Stakes competition, four in a row.  Bruce Clark trains the offspring of Huntsville, she was driven by Marcus Miller for owners Megan Rose Beauchamp and John Coffey.

Earthwindfire, was a winner last season at the Mighty M in the Sire Stakes ranks, she also raced with success on the Grand Circuit in her freshman campaign.  This afternoon the 1/5 favorite barely broke a sweat getting the lead from Tru Blue Hanover (Bartlett), once on top she was never threatened and coasted home a 2-length winner over True Blue Hanover in 1:55.2 – $2.10.  She owned by the same connections of former Horse of the Year Test of Faith, owners MP Segal and Kentuckiana Racing, the daughter of American Ideal and its trained by Brett Pelling, she has now won Sire Stakes in back to back starts.

In Excelsior action, Rec Time (Bartlett) scored a 4 length victory in 1:54.3 – $2.10 for trainer Deborah Daguet for the fastest mile of the day, for his first seasonal win.

Huntsville ruled the day with 5 winners on the card with American Ideal having 1 winner.