The Hopeful Series for colt and gelding pacers, began Saturday night with five, $10,000 events for 3-year-olds, and driver Jason Bartlett won four of the races. The Hopeful victories were part of Bartlett's six-win night on Saturday at Yonkers Raceway.
Bartlett started off his big night by taking the second race of the card, an overnight, with Western Blood, a 5-1 shot. He finished fourth in race 3, the first Hopeful split, then began a five-race sweep, which included four Hopeful divisions and the Open Pace.
Crunch Time, a Bettor's Delight gelding, turned in the fastest first-round Hopeful mile, a lifetime best 1:57.2. Stephane Bouchard put him in play early, fighting off a serious challenger before prevailing by three lengths. The winner ($6.20) is trained by Ed Hart for co-owners Ralph Mailman and Springhill Trading.
Saturday night's other Hopeful winners were:
--Pan Grad (by The Panderosa); co-owners Michael Casalino Jr. & (trainer) Dylan Davis/driver Bartlett; 1:57.3/$4.10;
--No Monkeys Allowed,g (by Rocknroll Hanover); owners Richard Young/trainer Chris Ryder/driver Bartlett; (first life win) 1:57.4/$5.40;
--Unicorn Hanover,g (by Four Starzzz Shark); owner Ed Mullinax/trainer Mark Ford/driver Bartlett; 1:57.4/$4.70.
--Bolder,g (by Cheyenne Rei); co-owner (trainer) Ron Burke,Weaver,Bruscemi,Baldachino,Karr/driver Bartlett;1:58.4/$6.80. (Yonkers)
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