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Trenton, NJ --- For Jason Bartlett and Venus Delight, the second tier may be first rate when it comes to Saturday’s $281,250 Breeders Crown Mare Pace at the Meadowlands.


Venus Delight will start the Breeders Crown from post No. 11, behind Camille in post one, which her driver feels pretty good about.


“It’s a great spot for her,” Bartlett said. “If we can get into a good spot early, don’t get too far back, we could be all right. She loves coming off a helmet, she loves chasing horses down. This is actually a good spot for her.


“You’re obviously trailing at the start. It would be great if we could put our nose on the gate, but you’ve got to play the cards you’re dealt. This is a good spot, you get to follow the (number) one and Camille has decent speed.”


When the gate opens, Bartlett will again play the cards he is dealt.


“I’m going to have to drive the race how it unfolds early, because there’s not much I can do early,” he said. “I’ve kind of got to watch what everybody else does and then go from there.”


Bartlett’s patient strategy, which he has honed over the years after being an overly-aggressive young driver, has paid off this year as he is once again the leading driver at Yonkers.


A former college basketball player, Bartlett was the leading driver at Yonkers from 2008-10. In the ensuing years, Brian Sears and George Brennan arrived from the Meadowlands, which made things a lot more competitive.


“When George and Brian came over, you’re talking about two of the best drivers in the country,” Bartlett said. “They took a lot of work, but driving against those guys you learn how to drive with them and it helps you out. You can’t make too many mistakes or they’ll totally take advantage of it. Driving with them has got to make you better.”


Last year Bartlett notched his 5,000th career win and finished third behind the duo at Yonkers. This season he has his most wins (491) since 2010 and purses of $7.6 million. He is ninth in wins nationally and seventh in purses.


“This year has been great, but for a lot of it I have to thank the trainers and the owners,” Bartlett said. “I had some good stables, everybody seems to give me the opportunity. The trainers have been the biggest part of the success and the owners have given me the biggest opportunities.”


Included in that group is trainer P.J. Fraley and Bamond Racing, who gave Bartlett the chance with Venus Delight, a 4-year-old daughter of Bettor's Delight-Venus Killean. She is 20-1 on the morning line for the Breeders Crown.


“I just want to thank P.J. and Jeff Bamond for giving me the chance,” Bartlett said. “I drove her as a 3-year-old last year around the New York Sires Stakes. When they bought her earlier in the year, they asked me about her. I’ve always liked the mare. She’s always finishing the mile, so I thought they had a good horse there when they bought her. I endorsed her.


“She seems to have no bottom to her. She acts kind of green a lot. She didn’t race much as a 2-year-old, she still acts that way as a 4-year-old. She’s still learning, too, to tell you the truth.”


The two will learn together what it’s like to drive in a Breeders Crown, as this is the first trip for both. They have an experienced Breeders Crown field to contend with, including Anndrovette, a three-time defending Dan Patch Award winner for best older mare and a two-time Breeders Crown winner; and Shelliscape, who won last year’s Breeders Crown. Bamond Racing owns Shelliscape and co-owns Anndrovette. The connections paid $31,250 to supplement Venus Delight into the Breeders Crown.


“This is such a great opportunity, obviously, to be a part of this big night and hopefully all goes well,” said Bartlett, who had a three-win night at the Meadowlands over the summer.


“Obviously you like to be o