Tue, 09/09/2025 - 23:09

Saratoga Harness: Bartlett triples in New York Excelsior Series finals

Fresh off winning four New York Sire Stakes finals on Saturday, Jason Bartlett captured three of the eight $100,000 New York Excelsior Series championships on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

Bartlett took the 2-year-old filly pace with Two Twenty Swift (by Huntsville and bred by Ross Bonafield, paid $4.82 to win) in 1:55 3/5 for trainer Deborah Daguet and owners Donald MacRae and Beasty LLC., the 2-year-old filly trot with Elqueen (by E L Titan and bred by Ross Bonafield, paid $11.48 to win) in 1:58 1/5 for trainer George Ducharme and owner Purple Haze Stables LLC. and the 2-year-old colt and gelding pace with Southwind Iron (by American Ideal and bred by Southwind Farms, paid $2.36 to win) in 1:54 3/5 for trainer Kevin Lare and owner Frank Chick.

Matt Kakaley was the other driver with multiple victories during the finals. He bagged the 3-year-old filly trot with EL Nightwish (by Chapter Seven and bred by owner Emp Invest Oy, paid $3.32 to win) in 1:54 4/5 for trainer Lucas Wallin and the 3-year-old filly pace with Time To Strike (by American Ideal and bred by owner Fiddler's Creek Stables LLC., paid $6.52 to win) in 1:54 for trainer Travis Alexander.

Alexander also captured the 3-year-old colt and gelding pace with Ima Perfect Choice (by Courtly Choice and bred by Winbak Farm, paid $13.62 to win) in 1:52 4/5 with Brett Beckwith in the bike for owner Gino Toscani.

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Rounding out the 2025 New York Excelsior Series champions were:

-Rubens (a 2-year-old gelding by Chapter Seven bred Order By Stable, paid $17.16 to win) in 1:59 3/5 for driver/trainer Dan Daley and owners James Crawford IV, Timothy Drag, Rich Preziotti and Carl Austin Jr.;

-Mane Man Charlie (a 3-year-old gelding by Met's Hall bred by Timothy Stutzman, paid $37.56 to win) in 1:56 3/5 for driver Jim Devaux, trainer Gary Messenger and onwer Scott Woogen.