Coaches Corner, Chase H Hanover and Desperate Man posted victories on the front end in the trio of $69,444 divisions of the last preliminary leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series, with the latter earning double-millionaire status on Monday, April 28 at MGM Yonkers Raceway.

Desperate Man and driver Matt Kakaley sped out from post four in the final section and worked his way past Huntinthelastdolar (Jason Bartlett) prior to the 27-second quarter-mile mark. It was all Desperate Man after that as the former Canadian Horse of the Year sailed through a :56.1 half and a 1:24 three-quarters, then came home in :27.1 to defeat a closing Verdun (Pat Lachance) by a length and a half in 1:51.1. Huntinthelastdolar had to settle for third.

A seven-year-old gelded son of Shadow Play-Dreamlands Latte, Desperate Man hails from the stable of Travis Alexander and is owned by Kathy Cecchin of Arthur, On. Desperate Man has posted back-to-back win in the series following a second and two thirds in earlier prelims. His victory on Monday marked the 29th successful outing of his 76-race career and boosted his bankroll past the milestone earnings mark to $2,013,980. He paid $3.60 to win as the 4-5 choice. 

In the opening split, Coaches Corner and Jason Bartlett laid down fractions of :28.1, :56.4 and 1:25, turned away a first-over bid from Dunkin (Tim Tetrick) and then kept pocket-sitter Binge On Yankee (Scott Zeron) at bay as well to the wire, defeating him by a head in a 1:52.1 mile. Sherlock N (George Brennan) was the third-place finisher.

The five-year-old gelded son of Always A Virgin-Carobbean Pacetry was sent out by Per Engblom for owners Jeff Fought Racing and Brian Carsey. Coaches Corner, who picked up his third win in the series to go along with a pair of second-place finishes, is now a 30-time career winner and has earned $1,172,131. He paid $2.20 to win as the 1-9 favourite. 

There was a 1-9 favourite in the second flight as well, that being Mossdale Ben N and Jordan Stratton. Mossdale Ben N, seeking his fourth win in the prelims, got going first-up from third before pacesetter Chase H Hanover and Anthony Napolitano got to three-quarters in 1:23.3, but Chase H Hanover, who also put up the quarter in 28 seconds and the half in :56.1, was resolute to the finish line and wouldn't let Mossdale Ben N reach him, prevailing by a length in 1:51. Miki Shan N (Yannick Gingras) worked out the pocket trip and ended up third.

Chase H Hanover, a seven-year-old gelded son of Captaintreacherous-Calgary Hanover, is trained by Cory Stratton for owners El Dorado Stables and Robert Weinstein. Chase H Hanover, a winner in back-to-back series legs with top three finishes in his other two appearances, made his 34th visit to the winner's circle and has pocketed $1,267,099 lifetime. HE returned $11.20 to win as the 9-2 second choice. 

Unofficially, the eight horses who have advanced to the $516,000 USD MGM Borgata Pacing Series final are:

• Coaches Corner (325 points)
• Mossdale Ben N (325 points)
• Verdun (287 points)
• Huntinthelastdolar (274 points)
• Desperate Man (274 points)
• For Once InmyLife (250 points)
• Binge On Yankee (237 points)
• Chase H Hanover (237 points)

The MGM Borgata Pacing Series final and the $490,000 USD Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final, both of which will take place on Friday, May 9, will be the first two Grade 1 harness racing events in North America under the graded stakes system that begins this year. 

The Blue Chip Matchmaker Series finalists are:

• Rocket Deo (312 points)
• Walkin On Sunshine (300 points)
• Aardie B Miki N (300 points)
• Silk Cloud A (274 points)
• Turn The Page N (224 points)
• Seaside Diva (221 points)
• Beautiful Seaside (217 points)
• Talk Curdy To Me (217 points)

Yonkers will host live racing every night this week through Saturday, May 3. Post time is 6:45 p.m. 

(With files from Yonkers Raceway; photo of Desperate Man from a previous win)