DRF HARNESS HOME DIGITAL HARNESS EYE HARNESS PPS DRF BETS ENTRIES ARCHIVE THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021 Yonkers regulars becoming weekend warriors With the New York track closed on Saturdays, George Brennan, Jason Bartlett, NEW PLAYERS Dan Dube and Joe Bongiorno have been moonlighting elsewhere While Brennan left the scene at The Mead- DOUBLE YOUR owlands years ago for the more consistent FIRST DEPOSIT EDITOR’S EYE five-nights-a-week schedule at Yonkers, the track still holds a special place in his heart. UP TO $250 By Derick Giwner “The place is magnificent. It still feels the @DRFHarness same to win a race at The Meadowlands,” said Brennan, who is certainly interested in JOIN NOW picking up some stakes drives if the oppor- Regardless of their place in the workforce, tunity presents itself. “If Yonkers stays in order for a person to prosper they must closed on Saturdays, it is definitely not out relocate to the best opportunity in the field. of the question. It frees me up to travel on When Yonkers Raceway made the decision to Saturdays.” Inside this issue switch from racing on Saturday to Wednes- day nights in 2021 it set about a chain reac- tion in the driving colony which reignited Jay Bergman: Perseverance unites Bice past experiences for some and created new and Scott Rocks, Page 5 ones for others. Three of the four top drivers in the Yonkers Keith Gisser: Bill Rhoades eyes stable standings as of March 21 are George Bren- on the east coast, Page 7 nan, Dan Dube and Jason Bartlett, and each have made good use of the newfound time on McCarthy/Alexa Skye look to keep the weekend to explore other options. rolling in Friday’s Matchmaker, Page 9 George Brennan, who has finished in the top 20 in earnings for drivers 24 out of the On The Backstretch: Profile of driver last 25 years (he missed over four months due Dan Dube, Page 11 to injury in 2008) and is closing in on 11,000 career wins, has been a Yonkers regular Woodbine Mohawk Park mandatory for the last decade. The 53-year-old sits atop payout Hi-5 analysis, Page 13 the Yonkers’ wins leaderboard with 66 wins YONKERS RACEWAY PHOTO (through 3/21), but lately has been visiting his George Brennan leads the drivers Letter to the Editor: Allard owner upset old stomping grounds in New Jersey. standings at Yonkers Raceway in 2021. over ban from Meadowlands, Page 14 Brennan has already picked up five wins Headlines: Hoosier Park returns Friday; in 15 starts at The Meadowlands in 2021. Last Dan Dube, who had the distinction of driv- year the former Meadowlands driving cham- ing two Horse of the Year winners (Gallo Blue Pick 5 carryover at Freehold, Page 15 pion made no appearances at the East Ruth- Chip & Rock N Roll Heaven) and has over 9,000 Comments? Questions? erford track during the first three months of career victories, is another former regular at the year. The Meadowlands who has returned in 2021. Email the Editor [email protected] “I’ve been coming down to drive for a few While the 51-year-old Quebec native loves the of my friends, and that’s fine,” said Brennan, opportunity, he admits that he liked the old TO ENSURE PROPER delivery who admits he is trying to limit has exposure schedule a bit better. OF THE NEWSLETTER VIA to the right opportunities. “At this point in my “I used to like my Wednesdays off. Now I go life I don’t want to drive 10 also-rans. I don’t six days in a row. It is tougher,” said Dube, who EMAIL, ADD [email protected]. want to drive 40-1 or 50-1 shots for checks BHSCo.-Spring Entries-2_Layout 1 3/23/2021 8:33 AM Page 1 com to your contact LIST every race.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 ENTER ACCEPTING ENTRIES ONLINE NOW www.bloodedhorse.com Entries Close April 12 JERRY HAWS P.O. Box 187 Wilmore, Kentucky 40390 Phone: (859) 858-4415 MAY 11, 2021 Fax: (859) 858-8498 “There’s No Substitute for Experience” © 2021 Daily Racing Form, LLC - 10 Grand Central, 3rd Floor, NY, NY 10017 First-Crop 3YOs in 2021 include: FLAWLESS COUNTRY (pictured) PASS Champion (1:53.0, $430,423) DELAYED HANOVER Winner of Bluegrass Series (1:53.4, $136,418) Six yearlings sold for $100,000 or more last year TYPE A Winner of Matron Stakes (1:55.0, $164,779) THE BEST SON OF MUSCLE HILL AT STUD BY MUSCLE HILL OUT OF FLAWLESS LINDY | 2021 PRIVATE FEE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 has driven 73 horses to date at The Meadowlands in 2021 compared to none in 2020 over the same period. Like Brennan, being available on a Saturday opens the door for Dube to get more involved in the Grand Circuit stakes schedule once again, but he is not counting on it. “If it works out, good, if not, that is fine,” said Dube, who is third at Yonkers this year with 36 wins. “You have to be with the right barn to get the right horse. You have to show up and train with them in the morning. I’m not a morning person and I’m getting older now. That is for the young crew.” The Meadowlands isn’t the only Saturday opportunity on the East coast for drivers. Jason Bartlett, for years the mainstay at the top of the Yonkers standings and currently fourth with 33 wins, has been burning the match at both ends in 2021, racing Monday to Friday at Yonkers and Saturday to Monday at The Downs at Pocono. “I’ve never been afraid of work. You just have to get yourself adjusted to [driving 7 days a week]. What else am I going to do, sit home and take a nap?” --Jason Bartlett “Right now there are no stakes going on and the weather hasn’t been great, so I’ve been keeping myself busy,” said Bartlett, who we CONRAD PHOTO caught at the fast-food drive-thru while shuttling between Pocono Joe Bongiorno has been pulling double-duty on Saturdays and Yonkers on a Monday afternoon. “I’ve never been afraid of work. between Pocono and The Meadowlands. You just have to get yourself adjusted to it. What else am I going to do, sit home and take a nap?” Doing double-duty has Bartlett not only on the Yonkers leader- I’ll have to find a day during the week to take off, probably Tuesday or board but also at Pocono, where he won six races last weekend and Wednesday.” has moved into fourth in the standings at the Wilkes Barre, PA oval. Bongiorno has already made 113 starts at The Meadowlands in Bartlett admits he is still adjusting to driving regularly at Pocono. 2021 compared to just 22 through the first three months of 2020. The “There is a lot more action at Pocono. The track is very nice. It is a 27-year-old realizes the importance of being at The Meadowlands on different group of guys, but so far I really like it,” said Bartlett, who Saturday. also hopes that his presence catches him some luck on the stakes “It’s good to be at The Meadowlands on a Saturday and this past front. “A lot of stakes horses come through here to qualify or race. week I was there Friday too. With the Matchmaker going on (at Last year I picked up King James Express and won the New York Sire Yonkers) I figured there would be more work available and I got a Stakes final with him.” bunch of drives,” said Bongiorno, who understands his presence Joe Bongiorno, seventh in the Yonkers standings, has been filling at The Meadowlands on Saturday provides additional chances for up his Saturdays with double duty between Pocono and The Meadow- stakes drives. “I usually get a bunch from Ronnie (Burke) and Tony lands. On March 20 he was in Pennsylvania from the opener at 12:34 (Alagna), but just being there on a Saturday gives you the chance to PM and stayed through the final race at 4:10 PM. He then got in his get lucky and pick something up.” car and hightailed it 120 miles over to The Meadowlands in time for With a number of tracks currently racing in the Northeast and its first race at 6:31 PM. more like Harrah’s Philadelphia (Chester) and Plainridge Park “I was driving along pretty good,” joked Bongiorno. “I fueled up the scheduled to open in the coming weeks, coupled with the imminent car before the races, got in the car in my colors and made it to The return of 3-year-old stakes horses to the track, spring is a great time Meadowlands at about 6:05 or 6:10. to be a driver. With an open day on the calendar, a full tank of gas and “Right now I only have Sunday off and soon Chester will be opening. perhaps some fast food between tracks, anything is possible. Thanks to everyone who nominated their youngster to the 2021 Ohio Sires Stakes! Kim Rinker, OSDF Administrator Conditions & schedule available at 614-779-0269 www.racingohio.net [email protected] DRF Harness Digest | 3 | March 25, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness ALWAYS A VIRGIN X ARTSTOPPER | $12,500 Freshman Sire SENSATION ALWAYS A MIKI Governors Cup Winner 1:50.2 $331,261 SOUTHWIND GENDRY Matron and PA Sire Stake Champion 1:50.0 $583,069 – Limited Bookings Available – PERFECT STING Undefeated Breeders Crown Champion and 2020 Dan Patch Champion 1:49.2 $534,300 Perseverance reunites Bice and millionaire Scott Rocks jaywalking By Jay Bergman BergmanJay Scott Bice always wanted to own a horse.