Impressive Stratton duo favored in Borgata Series

Hightstown, NJ — When it comes to consistency, Cory Stratton has a formidable one-two punch in MGM Borgata Pacing Series hopefuls For Once Inmy Life (Downbytheseaside) and Chase H Hanover (Captaintreacherous). The two horses have combined for 21 starts for the trainer and hit the board every time.

For Once Inmy Life, a 5-year-old who joined Stratton’s stable this past September, has six wins, six seconds and two thirds in 14 races. Chase H Hanover, a 7-year-old who has raced for Stratton since the beginning of this season, has three wins, a second and three thirds in his seven starts.

“They’re both really nice horses,” Stratton said. “Chase H was proven. For Once Inmy Life as a 2- and 3-year-old showed a lot of promise, he just had some issues. Knock on wood, they seem to be resolved. It’s a blessing to have two horses this good.”

The six-week Borgata series for older male pacers begins Monday at MGM Yonkers Raceway. A total of 38 horses were entered in the first round of the Grand Circuit event, resulting in five $50,000 divisions.

Chase H Hanover, who has banked $1.1 million in his career, will compete in the first division and is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in a field that includes two-time defending Borgata champion Hellabalou and $2-million-earner Charlie May. For Once Inmy Life will line up in the second division and also gets the nod as the 2-1 choice in a group that includes last year’s series runner-up, Coaches Corner.

For Once Inmy Life is a son of Downbytheseaside-Flyme To The Moon and a half-brother to millionaire I Did It Myway. The gelding was a multiple stakes winner on the Ohio Sire Stakes circuit at age 3 and finished second to eventual Horse of the Year Confederate in a division of the Tattersalls Pace at Lexington’s Red Mile. For his career, he has won 11 of 48 races and $391,615.

This year, For Once Inmy Life has three wins and three seconds in six races, good for $50,755 in purses. He heads to the Borgata off back-to-back second-place finishes to Mad Max Hanover at The Meadowlands. Among his victories in 2024 was a 1:50.3 score at Yonkers.

“He doesn’t really do anything more than he has to,” said Stratton, who trains For Once Inmy Life for owner Winters Racing Stable. “Scoring down, you would think he was a $10,000 claimer; he doesn’t really want to go. But as soon as you turn him to the gate, he’s a monster.

“Yonkers isn’t his specialty, but he has won in (1):50 there, so he definitely can do it. He’s a big horse, he runs in a little bit, but I’m not too worried about it.”

Jordan Stratton will drive For Once Inmy Life, who will leave from post four on Monday.

Chase H Hanover, a son of Captaintreacherous-Calgary Hanover, has won multiple times on the Grand Circuit during his career and finished second in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship as a 2-year-old. At 3, he was third behind Perfect Sting and Charlie May in the Breeders Crown at The Meadowlands and third behind American Courage and Charlie May in the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes at Yonkers.

He competed in the 2022 Borgata and finished second in two preliminary rounds, as well as in the $100,000 consolation. Lifetime, Chase H Hanover has won 32 of 105 races. He is owned by El Dorado Stables and Robert Weinstein.

“You don’t make a million dollars without being a good horse,” Stratton said. “(Trainer) Scott Cox did an amazing job with him at 2 and 3, and Virgil (Morgan Jr.) continued doing a great job with him. He’s always there. He’s really the true definition of a warhorse.”

Anthony Napolitano will drive Chase H Hanover on Monday, leaving from post three on Yonkers’ half-mile oval.

“He’s got tremendous gate speed, which is an advantage,” Stratton said. ““He’s probably better on a five-eighths (track), but he can get around Yonkers. He’s got the three-hole, which is a perfect spot to leave from. I expect him to be going forward.”

Preliminary rounds of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series will continue through April 28. The $200,000-added final and $100,000-guaranteed consolation will be May 9. For more about the series, click here.

Racing begins at 6:45 p.m. (EDT) at Yonkers. For free daily TrackMaster Platinum past performances, visit the Standardbred Owners Association of New York website click here.

For complete race entries, click here: US Trotting entries.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA