Esteemed former Horse of the Year and cherished crowd pleaser Desperate Man is on the brink of making his return to the track in the United States, where he shone during the latter part of his 2023 season.
Following a triumphant late-season spell competing at Yonkers Raceway, Desperate Man is gearing up to resume his winning ways under the guidance of owner/trainer Kathy Cecchin.
Hailing from Arthur, Ontario, Cecchin entrusted the star pacer to trainers Travis and Alaina Alexander last year for a fall campaign at Yonkers. During this period, Desperate Man showcased remarkable form by clinching victories in five out of seven outings in New York, consistently landing on the podium in each race.
Upon the conclusion of the Yonkers meet in December, Desperate Man took a scheduled break before recommencing training. Instead of returning to Cecchin's operational base in Arthur, where she oversees her stable alongside family members, Desperate Man joined the Alexander stable in Florida.
"Big guy is in fine form — plump and lively!"
remarked Cecchin about the six-year-old veteran with a winning tally exceeding $1.2 million.
"Although we would have loved his presence here, it made more sense to keep him in Florida where the weather is favourable and he can enjoy ample outdoor space. Alaina keeps me updated with numerous videos, and he seems to be relishing his time there, adorned with a full body clip and training enthusiastically on the strip — living the high life!"
Desperate Man, acclaimed as the Horse of the Year in 2021 following an exceptional sophomore season that saw him clinch the North America Cup in a career-best time of 1:49.3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, boasts an impressive record of 16 wins, 9 second-place finishes, and 7 third-place finishes from 55 starts throughout his career.
Before his stint at Yonkers, Desperate Man predominantly competed at Mohawk. However, the son of Little Brown Jug champion Shadow Play demonstrated a knack for excelling on half-mile tracks, securing three victories at Grand River Raceway, including setting an all-age track record of 1:50.1. Notable achievements include winning the Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup elimination at Flamboro Downs as a four-year-old and finishing a close second in a Canadian record mile clocked at 1:49.
"The decision to send him away was a tough one, but Travis and Alaina, along with their team, have been exceptional,"
Cecchin expressed.
"They understand his value and the royal treatment he expects. We were confident in their ability to look after him, and they have surpassed our expectations!
"He faced challenges at Mohawk last year, lacking the sprint speed required towards the end of the mile. His fondness for racing at Grand River led us to believe that the half-mile track suited his current form better."
Of his five triumphs at Yonkers, Desperate Man notably outpaced Open pacers in two races, producing scintillating performances with times of 1:51.3. His remarkable 2023 campaign was capped off with a valiant effort, narrowly missing out on victory in a 1:50.4 mile after a commendable overland journey. Although he fell short of reaching six-figure earnings for the first time in his career, Desperate Man achieved a personal best of eight wins, accounting for half of his lifetime victories.
"The Alexander team has done an outstanding job with him, and we were immensely proud of his accomplishments,"
Cecchin remarked.
"The competition was fierce, so his performances were truly commendable."
Following his training stint in Florida under the Alexanders, Desperate Man is set to continue under their care for the foreseeable future and is poised to undergo qualification on Wednesday, February 28 at Pocono Downs, with the prospect of competing in Grand Circuit races.
"We have entered him for the Borgata, although the final decision rests with Travis,"
Cecchin mentioned regarding the multi-leg Yonkers series commencing on March 18.
"The break did him good mentally,"
stated Travis Alexander.
"He's in top form. I anticipate he'll surpass his previous performances from last fall."