What If? Jason Bartlett Embraces Breeders Crown Moment

MILTON, October 23, 2025— Jason Bartlett has his wheels in motion heading into the Breeders Crown.

There’s no question the decorated driver and pride of Augusta, Maine, is at the top of his game. One look at his statistics – past and present – speaks volumes about his enduring success in harness racing.

“You start that hard work at the beginning of the year,” said Bartlett, inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. “I was available at a lot of different tracks and willing to travel, to do a little bit more than I usually do. Typically, I like to stay close to home, but I was able to have more opportunities to go to different places and drive different horses.”

Despite his remarkable record, including over 11,600 lifetime wins and $184 million in career purse earnings, Bartlett remains grounded.

There’s no ego, just focus.

The veteran horseman, who learned the ropes working alongside his grandfather, Dick Bartlett, and his mother, Sonia, is now zeroed in on his seven drives in this year’s Breeders Crown.

“I think you do have to look at each one as just another race,” said Bartlett. “If you do anything differently than you normally do, you then overthink it and that can throw you off. If you approach it with confidence and do the things that have helped you get to that moment, that is probably the best way to look at these races.”

Now 44 and living in Goshen, New York, Bartlett has competed in 10 Breeders Crown finals, with his best finishes coming in 2024 – second-place efforts with 3-year-old pacing filly Tarrific and older male pacer Seven Colors at the Meadowlands.

Six of those Breeders Crown starts came just last year for the former high school basketball standout.

A breakthrough win in the series would be a welcome addition to his long list of accomplishments.

“When you are winning races, it’s like any sport where you get into a rhythm. If you take basketball, for instance, when you are shooting well, it seems like the rim gets bigger.”

Bartlett has two drives on Friday and five more on Saturday.

On Friday night, he’ll pilot Spencer Hanover in the 2-Year-Old Colts & Geldings Trot and Fragment in the 2-Year-Old Colts & Geldings Pace.

His Saturday lineup features Bravo Angel S in the Open Mares Trot, Royal Mission in the 3-Year-Old Filly Trot, French Wine in the Open Trot, Dandy Ideal in the 3-Year-Old Colts & Geldings Pace, and Coaches Corner in the Open Pace. Sammy Jo Hanover is an also eligible in the 3-Year-Old Filly Pace.

Bartlett’s preparation, Breeders Crown and beyond, blends a strong work ethic, mental focus, and a dedication to fitness.

“I do CrossFit to keep in shape” he said, of the strength and conditioning program that combines constantly varied functional movements, such as weightlifting, gymnastics, and cardio, to improve overall fitness. “When it comes to the preparation for races like these, it is certainly more involved. You look at the other horses as if you were driving them, you think about what you might do. You do that homework, watch replays, watch the eliminations – just being ready is so important.”

And once the starter car pulls away, adaptability becomes everything.

“During these races, how you think it is going to go is never the way it plays out. You try not to go in with one game plan. You go in there knowing that you will likely have to make some adjustments.”

It’s a winning formula for Bartlett, who currently leads all North American drivers in purse earnings in 2025 with over $13 million. He’s also finished in the top 10 in earnings each of the past 12 years – including eight seasons in the top five – and ranked in the top 10 in wins in 10 of the past 11.

“Obviously, you are excited for the weekend and in knowing that this is the Breeders Crown,” said Bartlett, who has 13 driving titles at Yonkers and leads the standings there again this year. You want to enjoy it.”

His answer to what he is most looking forward to on Friday and Saturday comes in the form of a question.

“I would say, ‘What if?’ I have never been in a situation like this. Hopefully, we can start things off on a winning note on Friday and go from there.”

Odds are 1-9 he is ready for the moment.

“I can’t wait. When you are winning races, it seems like you are doing the right thing and that you are in that zone. It feels like I’m coming into this weekend in the right frame of mind.”

Chris Lomon, Woodbine Mohawk Park