As one of the likely favorites entering the MGM Borgata Pacing Series, it was thought by now that Desperate Man would have guaranteed a spot in the rich final. Yet heading into Monday's (April 21) fourth leg the Travis Alexander-trained gelding has not captured any of the first three rounds and could be on the outside looking in just qualifying for the 2025 final that is rapidly approaching $550,000 in purse money. "I thought he was very good the first two legs," said Alexander. "Last week it may have been that first quarter since he really wasn't on the gate leaving. He probably had to go that first quarter in 26 3/5, and that may have stung him." Despite the disappointment in the first three legs, Alexander has not lost confidence in his horse. "He's a big horse and I think he's going to need a few more starts," said Alexander. "Last week he had only three weeks off before we brought him back. This year he had a six-week break, and it's taken more time to get him at his best." Alexander said that he changed the feed on all his horses since last year and that they have all come back with more muscle. For a horse of his size, the added weight and muscle may have compromised Desperate Man more so than his other horses, and the hope is that with the extra work, racing fans will begin to see last year's form. "We're going to race him in this and the final leg and hopefully with the extra time this year between the last leg and the final he'll be at his best," said Alexander, thinking positively about the prospects of Desperate Man returning for the MGM Borgata Pacing Series final on May 9 at Yonkers. Desperate Man (post five) will meet five others, including a pair of multi-leg winners in Verdun (post two) and Huntinthelastdolar (post six) in the $50,000 third division on Monday at Yonkers (race seven). Thus far Desperate Man has been beaten by some solid horses in the series with Mossdale Ben N, Coaches Corner and Verdun capturing the legs he raced in over the first three weeks. "Patrick (Lachance) has done a great job with Verdun, a horse he claimed off of me," said Alexander of Verdun, who stalked Desperate Man last week and then drove by him in the stretch. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Alexander is also thinking positively of Why Not Now (post two) while looking for his first series win after three straight third-place finishes in the event. Why Not Now will have to be at his best in a field that includes Mossdale Ben N (post five) and Charlie May (post three). "I think he's raced great in every leg," said Alexander of Why Not Now. "In that first leg they raced in a monsoon. In the second leg he had to back up to get out on the turn and never regained his momentum. Last week he was very strong following Coaches Corner with Mossdale Ben N on his side." With no pure speed horse in the third race and second division of the Borgata on Monday, Why Not Now may finally be able to control his own destiny in the series and earn valuable points with time running out to reach the rich final. A pair of two-leg winners in the Borgata will meet for the first time in the series with For Once Inmy Life (post three) and Coaches Corner (post six) doing battle in the fourth division (race eight) on Monday. Trainer Cory Stratton gave both of his Borgata horses the third leg intentionally off and now returns with hopes of getting both For Once Inmy Life and Chase H Hanover into the final. For Once Inmy Life has won on the front-end both times and has a post position edge on Monday. Coaches Corner has returned with a vengeance this year for trainer Per Engblom. In last week's third leg he became the first horse to beat Mossdale Ben N in 2025, with a vicious front-end score in a series-best 1:50 4/5 clocking. Equally at home cutting the pace or coming from behind, Coaches Corner is clearly the horse to beat in the series. Two-time Borgata champion Hellabalou now seems a longshot to reach the final, having been off-the-board in the first three legs of the series. Still, the Ron Burke-trained veteran may just need a chance to get on the front-end to prove himself. In Monday's fourth round of the series, Hellabalou drew post four in the first $50,000 division (race two). Hellabalou meets leg winners Aardies Flash N (post two), as well as Binge On Yankee (post five) and the consistent Chase H Hanover (post six). Alexander was thrilled that Matt Kakaley got his 7,000th victory on Tuesday (April 15) at Pocono. "I wish it came a night sooner at Yonkers, but I'm happy it was able to happen at Pocono with his family there," said Alexander. "I want to thank Ron Burke and Mark Weaver for firing Matt," joked Alexander. "That changed everything for my stable because Matt's been a big part of our success story."