BARTLETT’S BRUSH WITH BIG M HISTORY FALLS TWO WINNERS SHORT
Thursday, January 9, 2025
There were just three races to go on the Saturday (Jan. 4) night card at The Meadowlands, and the red-hot Jason Bartlett had already driven six of the first 11 winners on the program.
He didn’t have a drive in the 13th race, so if he were going to tie The Big M record of eight winners on a single program, he would have to be victorious in both the 12th and 14th dashes. He obviously had a shot, since both horses were morning-line second choices.
Bartlett’s Sweet Jeff IR was bet down to 3-5 in the 12th – no doubt in part due to how the night was going for the 43-year-old pilot – but after making the lead early then sitting off a backstretch duel, the odds-on favorite struggled, failing to keep up in the pocket before finishing last in the field of 10.
“I knew in the post parade he would be really good or really bad,” said Bartlett. “He was very keen the week before. I kind of had to walk him down the backside the other night. Something bad had to be going on with him for him to race that bad.”
Bugaboo Lou was the even-money second choice to 4-5 favorite Bobcat Bay in the finale, but “Bobcat” kept “Bugaboo” safely at bay after a stretch duel to keep Bartlett’s win total at a half-dozen.
“He’s a good horse who hasn’t been great recently,” said Bartlett. “I knew with his back class, I still thought he had a decent shot. He got a good trip and raced a lot better than he has been lately.”
So, the 13-time Yonkers Raceway driving champion finished with six victories.
Good stuff.
Only once during 2024 did a driver win six on a Big M card, with Dexter Dunn turning the trick on Hambletonian Day. Dunn’s six-bagger came on a 16-race card, Bartlett’s on a 14.
“I was aware of how many wins I had,” said Bartlett, who is just 34 victories shy of 11,000 lifetime. “And I knew how many shots I had left. I didn’t find out until after the races what the track record was when my wife, Kristen, told me.
“I kind of just take it race by race. When I get in the bike for the 14th race, it’s about the 14th race.”
Bartlett has been enjoying his Saturday soirees at the mile oval. And so have his fans.
On Dec. 7, the native of Maine won five times, becoming just the second driver during 2024 at The Big M to win five on a card twice (Yannick Gingras was the other) before taking four walks down victory lane on Dec. 28.
“I love the competition,” said Bartlett, who intends to continue his Saturday visits to East Rutherford. “Saturday nights at The Meadowlands worked out pretty well for me last year. I’ve never won more than eight races on a card [at Yonkers]. I’ve done it five or six times. Maybe I can do it at The Meadowlands.”
SUPER STATS: Last year, Bartlett finished second in North America in dash wins with 633 (Aaron Merriman led with 874, his 10th straight national crown) and third in money-earnings with $12.6 million (Dunn, $16.6 million; Gingras, $14.5 million).
For three consecutive years, beginning in 2022, Bartlett won over 600 races and earned in excess of $10 million.
EIGHT IS ENOUGH: The Meadowlands record of eight wins on a card is shared by Mike Lachance (July 14, 1995) and Brett Miller (Dec. 16, 2016).
7-7-7 FOR DUNN: The last three times a driver won seven races on a Big M card, Dexter Dunn was the man in the bike, accomplishing the feat on Jan. 11, 2020, June 18, 2021 and July 23, 2021.
THE SCHEDULE: During the month of January, live racing will be conducted every Friday and Saturday with a first-race post-time of 6:20 p.m.
CHECK OUT THE SHOW: On live race nights, check out the live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pregame show at 5:45 p.m. when track announcer Ken Warkentin opens up the mic with a scene set and program changes before the team of Jessica Otten and Dave Little take over from the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set with news, notes, selections and a look at the night’s featured races.
Tioga Downs’ Andrew “Shades” Demsky will be on hand this weekend conducting interviews from the back paddock throughout the evening.
WINNERS ON SET: Fans of Big M TV’s Otten cashed big-time on the Early 50-cent Pick-4 Friday night (Jan. 3), collecting $361.95 for a $36 investment.
Little’s followers scored after playing “Little’s Late Double” on Saturday (Jan. 4), cashing in for $178 after investing $40.
HERSCHBERGER DELUXE: On Saturday night, driver Mark Herschberger will be Dave Little’s guest on “In the Sulky”, an interview segment which will take place just after the opening of the pregame show, at approximately 5:50 p.m.
FREE PPs: To show appreciation to its loyal fan base, The Meadowlands offers free program pages for every race of every race card on its website.
Go to playmeadowlands.com to get the past performances at absolutely no cost.
THE BILL OF FARE: Every night, The Meadowlands offers a marvelous menu of popular wagers that offer a low 15 percent takeout.
They are:
- 20-cent Pick-5: Race 1-5
- 20-cent Survivor Pick-7: Races 3-9 (mandatory payout nightly)
- 50-cent Pick-4: Races 6-9 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
- 20-cent Pick-6: Races 8-13
- 50-cent Pick 4: Races 10-13 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)
- 10-cent Non-jackpot Pentafecta (Hi-5): Race 14
TIME TO GET SOCIAL: Everything Meadowlands is available by going on X. You can check in with the Big M team for early changes, racing information and staff selections by going to @themeadowlands or #playbigm.
Stay in touch with The Big M team of Otten (@JessicaOtten1), Little (@DaveLittleBigM) and Warkentin (@kenvoiceover).
SHARPEN YOUR PENCILS: Come on out to the track on Friday, Jan. 17, for the first of what will be a monthly handicapping contest with a prize pool of $1,000.
Contestants must be on-site to participate and the top two finishers earn a spot in a $10,000 invitation-only handicapping contest that takes place in December.
For complete information, and to enter, go here.
CIRCLE THE DATE: One of The Big M’s most popular giveaways takes place on Saturday, Jan. 18, with the track’s 2025 Calendar Giveaway, which is chock full of photos commemorating highlights of the 2024 season.
Starting at 6 p.m., the first 1,000 guests will receive a calendar. One per person, please.
PIRATE PARTY: A great college basketball matchup will be in the spotlight on Saturday, Jan. 25, when the Seton Hall Pirates head to Omaha, NE to take on the Creighton Blue Jays in a 12:30 p.m. tip-off.
There’s no need to travel across the country to catch the action. Head to The Meadowlands and watch the game in The Gallery, where there are huge TVs and waitress service.
For complete information, go here.
CHILI COOK-OFF: One of The Meadowlands’ more popular promotions is the Chili Cook-Off, and the winter edition of the tasty treat takes place on Saturday, Feb. 1.
There will be prizes for Homestyle Chili, Red Chili, People’s Choice Chili, Best Booth and Salsa.
If you are a cook, come on out and see how your skills in the kitchen stack up against everybody else’s in the contest. Not a cook? Come and get yourself some free samples all night long.
For complete information, and how to enter, go here.
FOOTBALL FANDUEL FABULOUS: The FanDuel Sportsbook is the No. 1 facility of its kind in all of North America. With massive TV screens and self-service betting terminals, Meadowlands fans know all they have to do is head for the grandstand at the mile oval to get in the sports betting game.
The football action will be fast and furious this week as the National Football League playoffs begin.
You can watch and wager on every game in the FanDuel Sportsbook.
It all gets underway Saturday (Jan. 11), when the Los Angeles Chargers head to Houston for a 4:30 p.m. game with the Texans. The Chargers are a 2½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 42½ points.
At 8 p.m., the Pittsburgh Steelers visit Baltimore, where the Ravens are a 9½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 43½.
On Sunday (Jan. 12), the Denver Broncos head to Buffalo for a 1 p.m. game. The Bills are an 8½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 47½.
The Green Bay Packers will be in Philadelphia for a 4:30 p.m. kickoff with the Eagles, who are a 4½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 45½.
The 8 p.m. game finds the Washington Commanders in Tampa Bay, where the Buccaneers are a 3–point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 50½.
The final game of the week is on Monday (Jan. 13), when the Minnesota Vikings travel to Los Angeles for an 8 p.m. game with the Rams. The Vikings are a 1½-point favorite in the game that has an under/over of 47½.
The College Football Playoff is now at the semifinal stage, with two games for players to feast on.
On Thursday (Jan. 9), Notre Dame is a 1½-point favorite over Penn State in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. The game has an under/over of 45½ points.
On Friday (Jan. 10), Ohio State is a 5½-point favorite over Texas in a game that has an under/over of 53½. The matchup will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Whatever the sport, for the latest odds, go here.
The FanDuel Sportsbook is open for business Monday through Friday 10 a.m. – 1 a.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. – 1 a.m.; and Sunday 8 a.m. – midnight.