For driver Jason Bartlett, the strategy of sitting second helped him cross the wire first as he guided Ronny Bugatti to a head victory over Sunfire Blue Chip in the $530,000 Messenger last night at Yonkers Raceway.
Bartlett and Ronny Bugatti (6-1) sat in the pocket until the stretch when they moved into the passing lane to get up by the slimmest of margins over Sunfire Blue Chip in 1:51 4/5. Twilight Bonfire was third.
“It feels great. Couldn’t come at a better place and the horse is really, really good, so it was all the horse,” Bartlett said.
This was only the third win in 15 starts this season for the Allan Johnson-trainee Ronny Bugatti.
Ronny Bugatti paid $14.80 to win, giving both Bartlett and Johnson their first Messenger victory. The Messenger is the third jewel in the Pacing Triple Crown.
Earlier in the evening, Charisma Hanover and driver Yannick Gingras won the $218,684 Lady Maud for 3-year-old pacing fillies by open lengths in 1:52.
Gingras left from post position 5 with Charisma Hanover (the 1-5 favorite) and although Certified Ideal (58-1) and Jim Pantaleano didn’t give up the lead easily, Gingras took it in stride.
“Jimmy was going to let me go, I was never worried about that. I thought [Charisma Hanover] was much the best and I didn’t want to do anything stupid to hurt her chances,” Gingras said.
Charisma Hanover, trained by Ron Burke, easily won by 3 ¹/₂ lengths over the pocket-sitting Certified Ideal. Scandalous Hanover was third.
Charisma Hanover returned $2.90 to win.