It's the richest race of the year thus far and perhaps the most difficult to handicap. The culmination of five weeks of preliminary rounds has led to what figures to be an epic final on Friday night (May 9) at Yonkers Raceway when the cream of the crop will decide the champion in the $516,000 MGM Borgata Pacing Series final. While some of the eight finalists needed to improve their point totals to reach the big dance, trainer Cory Stratton's pair of For Once Inmy Life and Chase H Hanover had been managed to perfection and entered the final leg with virtual certainty to qualify for Friday's event. For Stratton, everything did not go as planned in the April 28 final round as three-leg winner For Once Inmy Life made an uncharacteristic break in stride behind the gate and struggled mightily to find firm footing. "I have no idea what happened," Stratton said a little over one week after the miscue. "Jordan didn't know what happened, and after trying to get him back he decided to pull him up in case there was an injury." Going from being among the favorites for Friday's final to questioning For Once Inmy Life's soundness gave Stratton some moments of anxiety, but the morning after the concluding preliminary round of the Borgata he sat behind For Once Inmy Life, and the 5-year-old son of Downbytheseaside was a different horse. "He jogged sound, and I was relieved," said Stratton. Thinking quickly, the trainer realized that though For Once Inmy Life had enough points to compete in the final the fact that he had not completed the mile meant he would have to requalify to be eligible. "I could have qualified him at the Meadowlands," said Stratton. "But I called over to Pocono and entered him for the next day (Wednesday April 30)." For Once Inmy Life handled the qualifier well, winning in 1:53 4/5, but time was not the issue. In less than 48 hours Stratton's life – concerned about his best horse – was a roller coaster, but following the qualifying mile things flattened out and preparations were made for Friday's final. "I'm happy they moved the final. It works out well for both of my horses that have done well with additional time between starts," said Stratton. Both horses were given weeks off within the series and returned with victories two weeks later. While Stratton is happy with the condition of both horses and the likelihood that they will be in peak form on Friday, he recognizes just how difficult this race could be. "I would say that six or seven of the eight horses have a legitimate chance to win," Stratton said, obviously including his pair. For Once Inmy Life drew post three and Chase H Hanover landed post six. "Sure, I was happy with the draw. Chase H Hanover is outside but at least he didn't draw the seven or eight," said Stratton. Stratton had been concerned about rounding up a driver for the final with his brother Jordan guiding Mossdale Ben N and For Once Inmy Life throughout the prelims. "I had given Dexter (Dunn) a call a few weeks back to ask if he would be interested," said Stratton. "I knew that Per (Engblom) was also going to need a driver for one of his and I wanted to get to Dexter first." ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Stratton's stable has been hitting on all cylinders this year with roughly 65 horses in training. "I've got more horses and it's a much better group," said Stratton of his 2025 success. "Yonkers is my main track, and we're heavily involved in the claiming game. My owners are willing to jam them back in the same class and you can make $8,000-10,000 a week." With $516,000 on the line on Friday, Stratton is in position to do significantly better than that in just one race. "Winning a race like this at my home track would be something special," said Stratton, "Probably the second biggest race I could win." With Stratton growing up near the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Ohio, it wasn't a surprise that winning the Little Brown Jug would eclipse an MGM Borgata victory. "I've been going to the Jug since I was a little kid," he said. Stratton, like most handicappers, hasn't a clue just how the Borgata final (race eight) will go on Friday night. "You have to figure Verdun (Patrick Lachance) will gun out from the rail and Binge On Yankee (Scott Zeron, post two) can leave fast as well. There's not much of an angle from post three," said Stratton of the chances of For Once Inmy Life seeing the front in the early stages. "You have to figure Coaches Corner (Jason Bartlett, post eight) will be leaving and Desperate Man (Matt Kakaley, post seven) can't take back," said Stratton. Chase H Hanover, from post six, has shown quickness at the outset in his races, but Stratton feels that both of his horses are versatile. "Chase H is better on the bigger track, but he showed grit coming first-over to win in the fourth round," said Stratton. Chase H Hanover came back in leg five to wire the field in 1:51, out-sprinting Borgata morning-line favorite Mossdale Ben N (Jordan Stratton, post five). Mossdale Ben N has won seven of his nine starts while racing from off-the-pace for trainer Pete Tritton since his arrival earlier this winter. Though his two second-place finishes came in the final three legs of this series, a slow pace worked to his disadvantage each time. Though not meant to be a handicap race, the draw for this year's MGM Borgata final played out just like that with last year's second- and third-place finishers returning to the final but getting the worst of the draw. Coaches Corner finished second behind Hellabalou from post six a year ago, while Desperate Man settled for third after being parked the distance by favored Linedrive Hanover. Desperate Man had post four a year ago and starts from post seven this Friday. Leading Yonkers trainer Per Engblom sends out Huntinthelastdolar (Yannick Gingras) from post four, and that could be a perfect spot for an upset. Gingras posted the upset last year from post five with Hellabalou. In addition to the rich MGM Borgata final, Yonkers will also host a $100,000 consolation (race six) event. Miki Shan N (post two) and Charlie May (post four) are the morning-line favorites. $516,000 MGM Borgata Pace Final - Grade 1 - Friday - Race 8 POST-HORSE-DRIVER-TRAINER-ODDS 1-Verdun-Pat Lachance-Pat Lachance 8-1 2-Binge On Yankee-Scott Zeron-Jeff Gillis 15-1 3-For Once Inmy Life-Dexter Dunn-Cory Stratton 5-1 4-Huntinthelastdolar-Yannick Gingras-Per Engblom 12-1 5-Mossdale Ben N-Jordan Stratton-Peter Tritton 5-2 6-Chase H Hanover-Anthony Napolitano-Cory Stratton 9-2 7-Desperate Man-Matt Kakaley-Travis Alexander 7-2 8-Coaches Corner-Jason Bartlett-Per Engblom 4-1