There have been plenty of plot twists, so far, in the multi-leg stakes series at Yonkers.

by Brett Sturman

The first three legs of this year’s MGM Borgata Pacing Series have come with plot twists to kick off this year’s free-for-all stakes action, and suddenly with just two legs left before the finals are determined, much remains in flux for the higher-regarded horses.

Before getting into those on the “bubble,” Verdun is one of a few series contenders that looks to have his name squarely stamped for a date into the finals. He also might be the feel-good story of the series thus far.

Owned by Thomas Ceraso and trained and driven by Pat Lachance, Verdun is one of the rarer free-for-all pacers that was acquired via claim. After racing in Delaware into last summer as a 4-year-old where he was trained by Jason Johnson, Verdun made two starts at Yonkers as a $50,000 claimer for Travis Alexander. After winning his first two races in the class upon arrival, he was claimed out of that third one — a race he won by four lengths in 1:51.4 — and the rest is history. He’s since won eight different 3-5YO opens at Yonkers and has taken two out of his three Borgata legs. In the last three weeks alone, racing in the Borgata series, he’s earned the exact amount of his $62,500 ($50,000 plus allowances) claim price.

Following late-race heroics to win his opening leg three weeks ago over a notable Huntinthelastdolar, Verdun picked up another series win last week when he popped from the pocket around the final turn to capitalize off a perfect trip against heavily favored Desperate Man to win by a couple of lengths going away. Monday’s (April 21) seventh race could be telling, as it pits Verdun, with the post advantage in the field of six, against both Desperate Man and Huntinthelastdolar.

Huntinthelastdolar goes for Yonkers leading trainer Per Engblom and is another that, aside from that head defeat to Verdun in the opening leg, has been nearly perfect in the series thus far. The New York Sire Stake champion from 2023 was battle tested against many of the sports best older pacers last year and his win in last week’s second preliminary leg was monstrous. In that race, he was used extremely hard having left into a :26.1 opening quarter and had to wait for Charlie May to clear before he could then make his move to the front, and in the end, he not only lived to tell about it but won quite comfortably.

Another major player, who will have a say before the series is said and done, has been Mossdale Ben N. Prior to last week, he had been a perfect six-for-six since coming to North America and that includes winning his first two legs of the Borgata series – both from well off the pace which is something you don’t see often at Yonkers let alone two weeks in a row. Last week, he did all he could to be a game second to Coaches Corner after ceding the tactical advantage to that rival who is also a top series contender and who is making his presence felt in this series for the second straight year. As for Mossdale Ben N, he looks favorably situated in his upcoming race Monday to do no worse than second in a race he’ll be odds-on favored to win.

Another notable performer in a series that’s exceeded my initial expectations for star power has been For Once Inmy Life who returns Monday after taking last week off. Unbeaten thus far in the series through his first two races, he amazingly hasn’t been worse than second in a race since November of last year. Over the course of 12 races, most of which came at The Meadowlands, two were races he nearly took it to Mad Max Hanover. He races Monday where his main threats will come from Coaches Corner and perhaps Humble A.

On the topic of Humble A, he’s one of a few that’s in need of a top finish in Monday’s fourth leg. A (presumably high dollar) private purchase following his runner-up finish in the series first leg – a race where he was beaten for the first time since shooting up the Yonkers ranks last year on entering North America, he’s run into somewhat of a new reality the last two weeks. In leg 2 he took a good first-over try against For Once Inmy Life but flattened at the end – similar to what he did in leg 1. Last week he wasn’t involved from an outside post. Now, it looks like he’d need to finish ahead of at least Coaches Corner or For Once Inmy Life on Monday to keep his Borgata final hopes alive.

Veterans Desperate Man and Charlie May find themselves in similar situations. Desperate Man tore through the preliminary legs last year before dueling into defeat in the final, but this year has been tougher. He didn’t have an easy trip in the first leg when he was third, but then he didn’t last on the lead in his next two races either. With one second place finish and two thirds to his credit thus far, he is in against two tough ones on Monday and is another that needs a strong showing.

Nearly the same can be said for Charlie May. He looked a little short to me in his first leg but came back with two strong races since then where he’s been involved in early uncharacteristically Yonkers fast fractions. He cut the mile two back when parked through a :26.4 opening quarter, and last week dueled to the front past a :26.1 opening split and did quite well to stay up close until the end. He lands a relatively comfortable position Monday in a race that I’d say is a must-win if he were to keep on track to the final.

With two weeks to go until a week off and then the finals, the Borgata series is still anybody’s to win.