How much would you pay for Marcus Miller to fly in and drive your horse?

[Fuguzzi]

And Kakaley is no slouch. How many of the others have pulled off a 9 win and a second in 10 races on the same night

Very few, but you can not define him by that special accomplishment.  Not leading driver material, except at B or C tracks

[Stan durbread]

My apologies, I did omit Jordan. I thought i mentioned him in the nightly list of 8. Definitely better than the ones listed, correct. Lotta people on here were talking trash about Jordan because of Voukefelias. that's silly to measure him by one horse who had issues and was dealing with some monsters on  the track

That is the Sam reason a bunch here hate Bartlett. He has had a few opportunities in big stakes races at The Big M and didn’t win. Mind you they were all 10+/1 shots

[Fuguzzi]

That's their beef. I can't answer that. Those instances carry no meaning when defining a man's career.

[Fuguzzi]

LOL  I can think of many more drivers people on here could/should "hate" before Jason Bartlett. I see a lot of zombies out there as I watch more and more races. Trace Tetrick comes to mind immediately. He is awful.

[LAW AND ORDER]

Bruce Ranger, right now, in his early 60s, if he came to YR, would out drive Bartett and be number 2. Maybe not Brennan, but Bartlett, yes. Starting when he was 19, until right now, Bruce can flat out drive a horse.

I DISAGREE. THEN WHY DID HE STAY AT FLORIDA FOR SHIT PURSES ALL THOS YEARS. I WILL SAY IN MY OPINION BRUCE RANGER WAS WAYYYYYYYY BETTER THEN HENNESSEY AT POMPANO BUT HE IS A SICK GAMBLER AND GABE JUST KISSED WALLYS ASS ON A NIGHTLY BASIS. BUT NO WAY COULD RANGER OUTDRIVE BARTLETT AT YONKERS. AT POMPANO YES OF COURSE BUT NOT AT YONKERS.

[comeonman]

Amazing...can name 50 drivers that if had the best horse would win most if the times.. that includes Marcus miller

[Stan durbread]

I DISAGREE. THEN WHY DID HE STAY AT FLORIDA FOR SHIT PURSES ALL THOS YEARS. I WILL SAY IN MY OPINION BRUCE RANGER WAS WAYYYYYYYY BETTER THEN HENNESSEY AT POMPANO BUT HE IS A SICK GAMBLER AND GABE JUST KISSED WALLYS ASS ON A NIGHTLY BASIS. BUT NO WAY COULD RANGER OUTDRIVE BARTLETT AT YONKERS. AT POMPANO YES OF COURSE BUT NOT AT YONKERS.

There is a reason ranger has always stayed on the B circuit. Just like Palone

[Fuguzzi]

I DISAGREE. THEN WHY DID HE STAY AT FLORIDA FOR SHIT PURSES ALL THOS YEARS. I WILL SAY IN MY OPINION BRUCE RANGER WAS WAYYYYYYYY BETTER THEN HENNESSEY AT POMPANO BUT HE IS A SICK GAMBLER AND GABE JUST KISSED WALLYS ASS ON A NIGHTLY BASIS. BUT NO WAY COULD RANGER OUTDRIVE BARTLETT AT YONKERS. AT POMPANO YES OF COURSE BUT NOT AT YONKERS.

Bruce is not a sick gambler at all. in fact, he hasn't done anything "addictive" in years. he is born again, tithes much of his earnings and actually counsels persons suffering addiction and grief and in person. he turned his life around and has stayed straight and helped many. please dont trash him based on misinformation. Bruce could drive with anyone, anywhere. most guy who will win 12,000 can.

[theokodjak26]

Bruce Ranger was great at Pompano. Wally Hennessy was great at Pompano. Both are doing just fine since Pompano closed. Wally gets my nod for a better career because he performed well in NY Sire Stakes and occasionally on the international circuit with a fabulous trotter. Taking nothing away from Ranger, I recall an interview a few years back after he started driving again in Maine. When asked if he would return to Pompano he said absolutely not. He hated racing there. He hated the weather, the heat, rain, lightening whatever. I never read anything like that from Wally. Now it is not fair to compare either men to Bartlett. To my knowledge neither Bruce or Wally spent much if any time at Yonkers where there are some very good drivers. Neither Bruce or Wally competed consistently against any group like these drivers. Plus Bartlett holds his own when he drives outside of Yonkers regardless of what some others are writing. IMO Bartlett will walk into the HOF one day. There should not be any minimizing his fantastic results.

[Fuguzzi]

There is a reason ranger has always stayed on the B circuit. Just like Palone

He unfortunately had to when he was in his prime. He straightened out past 40. Better late than never. He is an outstanding talent. When he broke in in New England as a kid of 18, he vaulted right to the top of a group that has almost 100,000 wins now. A great cradle of drivers.

[seen2much]

How much would you pay for Marcus Miller to fly in and drive your horse?

That is LOL funny.

[Stan durbread]

He unfortunately had to when he was in his prime. He straightened out past 40. Better late than never. He is an outstanding talent. When he broke in in New England as a kid of 18, he vaulted right to the top of a group that has almost 100,000 wins now. A great cradle of drivers.

So what f he could dominate Yonkers   Then why stay in Maine year round racing for peanuts??

[Fuguzzi]

Bruce Ranger was great at Pompano. Wally Hennessy was great at Pompano. Both are doing just fine since Pompano closed. Wally gets my nod for a better career because he performed well in NY Sire Stakes and occasionally on the international circuit with a fabulous trotter. Taking nothing away from Ranger, I recall an interview a few years back after he started driving again in Maine. When asked if he would return to Pompano he said absolutely not. He hated racing there. He hated the weather, the heat, rain, lightening whatever. I never read anything like that from Wally. Now it is not fair to compare either men to Bartlett. To my knowledge neither Bruce or Wally spent much if any time at Yonkers where there are some very good drivers. Neither Bruce or Wally competed consistently against any group like these drivers. Plus Bartlett holds his own when he drives outside of Yonkers regardless of what some others are writing. IMO Bartlett will walk into the HOF one day. There should not be any minimizing his fantastic results.

Wally Hennesey is one of the 10 greatest drivers to ever live. An incredibly underrated HOFer, who can drive anything, anywhere and still rocks in his mid 60s. His lifetime win percentage is staggering  To win 11,500 out of 45,000 drives is mind - boggling

[rainman2]

I have to reply to both of Fuguzzi's posts, the oldkodjak26 post, and Stan durbread's posts at 1 time here.

1.  Whether Bruce 'hated the weather' is irrelevant.  He made a very good living staying warm in the winter while sweating his ass off in the summer.  FYI. Bruce had a townhouse right around the corner from Pompano Park [RIP].  He could have walked to work everyday without fighting traffic, etc.

2.  Unfortunately, Bruce had issues in his younger days and survived them and look where he is today. I have had a handful of chats outside his barn at Pompano years ago.  Always very courteous and has straightened his life out.  How many people have tried to straighten themselves out and failed??     
He races for 'peanuts' in Maine while being the leading driver at Plainridge Park and look what he makes at Plainridge.  From what I heard at Plainridge; you have to take some drives for 'peanuts' so you don't lose other drives elsewhere in Maine/Massachusetts.  People forget quickly up there regardless of your past laurels and accomplishments.

[Fuguzzi]

So what f he could dominate Yonkers   Then why stay in Maine year round racing for peanuts??

age, family ties to the area and his involvement with faith and causes outside racing.