Game Changers – Desperate Man

MILTON, September 25, 2025 – Once a week, throughout the Mohawk harness racing season, Woodbine will profile a horse who has had a life-changing impact on one of their closest connections.

This week, the winner of over 7,800 races and $85 million lifetime, driver Trevor Henry, and 2021 O’Brien Three-Year-Old Male Pacer of the Year and overall Horse of the Year, Desperate Man (Shadow Play).

The accomplished reinsman reflects fondly on the meaningful time he shared with the gifted bay pacer.

Desperate Man

Foaled: May 31, 2018

Sire: Shadow Play

Dam: Dreamlands Latte

Wins-Seconds-Thirds: 32-14-13

Earnings: $2,341,747

Trainer: Travis Alexander (current)

Owner: Kathy Cecchin

Breeder: Winbak Farm

What made Desperate Man tick?

“I don’t know what made him tick. He was just a good-gaited horse and very smart. You could do anything with him. Most of the good horses are that way; they’re so smart and love what they’re doing.

“He was a good-looking young horse when he was a colt. I had seen him at the [2019 Lexington Selected Yearling] sale and they asked me to look at him and I said he looked good. They set a price of $20,000. That’s what he went for, and they were lucky enough to get him.

“He’s still making money to this day.”

When did you realize this horse was going to be special?

“Probably his first baby race. He had gone in :26 flat his last quarter, and when he came for home, he was gone. You could just tell by his gait that he was a good horse and only going to get better.

“It all came together in the [2021] North America Cup. It was special because I keep my horses at their farm – I’ve known John and Kathy [Cecchin] my whole life – and it meant a lot to bring the horse along all that way and win a million-dollar race with him.

“You don’t get a chance to have a horse in that race that has a chance of winning very often, and when he does win, with those types of people, it’s very special.”

Talk about his personality on and off the track.

“He’s a lazy horse. A kid could jog him. He’s just so docile, and a quiet, loveable horse. But like I say, when you put him on the gate, he’s a totally different horse.

“He had the switch. You’d take him out and post parade him and have to chase him to get him around to the other side of the track. As soon as you turn him to the gate, he’s all horse.”

Three words to describe him?

“Very nice horse.”

How has he changed your life?

“He’s definitely changed John and Kathy’s life a lot. I don’t know, for me, it was just something to win the North America Cup. Everybody dreams of winning it. I started at the bottom and that’s the pinnacle to make it to there.

“Not many people get to get there. A lot of people try, but it’s really hard to do. Everything has to come together in the right way.”

By Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine Entertainment