Former Horse of the Year Desperate Man triumphed in his consecutive qualifier at Pocono Downs in Mohegan Pennsylvania on Wednesday, March 6, gearing up for his upcoming six-year-old campaign.
The speedy stallion, under the ownership of Kathy Cecchin from Arthur, Ont., and under the training of Travis Alexander, showcased his prowess as the fastest qualifier of the morning, clocking a remarkable 1:52.2 over the 'good' track.
Commencing from an outer position among five competitors, the millionaire progeny of Shadow Play, guided by driver Matt Kakaley, tactfully positioned himself in the pocket after a brisk :28.3 initial quarter. Demonstrating a swift move to seize the lead, Desperate Man dictated the pace to reach the half in :57.1. With an impressive performance in the final stretch, he concluded the mile with consecutive :27.3 splits, securing victory by a margin of 1-1/2 lengths over Brue Hanover, the early frontrunner from Mickey Burke Jr.'s stable.
Desperate Man, renowned for clinching five wins at Yonkers Raceway in the past year, stands as a notable contender for the upcoming MGM Borgata Pacing Series at the same venue, slated to commence on March 15.
Additionally, Pleaseletmeknow, a stakes victor bred by Fiddler's Creek Stables and another Borgata hopeful from the Alexander stable, also dazzled in his second qualifier of the season on Wednesday. The talented steed dominated with an impressive 8-3/4-length victory in 1:53.3, closing the race with a swift :27.2 final quarter.