Bartlett Sweeps PA All-Stars Saturday With The Help Of Hit Me Up
Jason Bartlett drove the winners of both $35,000 divisions of the Pennsylvania All-Stars contest for two-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
First to visit Victory Lane was the Captaintreacherous – Sweetest Emotion filly Bermuda, who posted a 1:53.3 mark in her first lifetime purse success. Bartlett had wanted to leave from post three with his baby, but favoured Jazzed from the rail and No Foolin in post two left hard to protect forward spots, so Bartlett took back to third and sat while Jazzed put up a quarter of :27.4 and then a soft half of :57.4. Bermuda and Bartlett went up first-over and paced their own third quarter in :27 to gain contention, and in the stretch the winner was able to wear down the pacesetter by a half-length for trainer Nancy Takter and Diamond Creek Racing.
Trainer Jenn Bongiorno, 55 minutes before Water Sports Teen put in his stunning Adios elimination victory, enjoyed another stakes success, with the Always B Miki – Gallie Beach miss Hit Me Up in 1:54. Hit Me Up and Bartlett had to work hard to wrest the lead near the :28 opener, but Hit Me Up got a rest to the half in :58.1, and then back fractions of :55.4 - :27.2 were just too much for her opposition. Hit Me Up now has a record of two wins and one second in her brief career for owner Joshua Jay Graber (also the owner of Water Sports Teen).
The most impressive mile from the overnight horses was a 1:51.4 lifetime best from the Airzoom Hanover mare Morairtime in a $13,000 trot. Jack Parker Jr. pointed his mare frontward and, relieved to escape the likes of Manchego and Atlanta, posted splits of :26.3, :54.3, and 1:22.4 en route to the sharp victory. The winner of $289,463 is trained by Carol Jamieson-Parker for owner James Moore III.