The MGM Borgata Pacing Series is a rarity in our sport and one that tests the abilities of our trainers, drivers and horses like no other. After the first three rounds were completed on Monday (April 3), it's time to take score and assess what has remained the same and what has changed in the class of 2023. The new player in the series, that until Monday looked to be the favorite for the April 24 final, was Lochinvar Art A. The son of Art Major was a noted star when he arrived in this hemisphere, and, with Lauren Tritton in the bike, had the presence to win from on-the-pace, off-the-pace and without cover. On Monday he tasted defeat for the first time this year, but hardly diminished his overall stature. Undefeated only lasts so long and in the case of Lochinvar Art A in the United States, it's likely better it came in round three as opposed to the lucrative final in three weeks. What happened to Lochinvar Art A is essentially what happens to most horses that race in the Borgata Series over time. It's near impossible – no matter what the post, the trip or the effort – to keep a horse on its toes for six straight weeks. Inevitably, no matter how well these horses are programmed, they can't do the same thing every week despite what the bettors expect of them. While all analysists need to be careful not to put too much weight on one week's performance, round three gave some solid indications that a few of last year's horses have not yet found traction and some of this year's horses are pointed in the right direction. The biggest performance of the night came from last year's champion Funatthebeach N and driver Jordan Stratton. The 9-year-old started the series with more races this winter than any other and went through the opening two rounds with decent efforts but nothing that suggested what we witnessed on Monday night. A third in the first round to Leonidas A was his typical solid closing-off-cover performance. In round two Funatthebeach N was uncovered into a 54 4/5 half and did well enough to hold his ground for fourth. On Monday, Stratton had so much confidence in his horse that he put him in action before the half and was willing to go on a long first-over jaunt against an imposing pace-setting favorite in Tattoo Artist. The fractions were consistent through the final half, with Tattoo Artist sprinting a third quarter in 27 3/5 while Funatthebeach N advanced. The unexpected happened when the favorite had no answer for Funatthebeach N on the final turn. Perhaps even more telling was that the Jeff Gillis-trained gelding had lost rival Leonidas A, who had tracked him intently from before the half. The 27 3/5 final quarter and 1:50 4/5 mile were a surprise to rivals and bettors, but not those who watched this horse do pretty much the same things in last year's preliminary rounds of the Borgata. Not at his best on the front-end, Funatthebeach N is the type of horse that needs five legs of a series to find the trips in his favor and earn the requisite point total to reach the final. His third round victory puts him in the running to reach the final, but he may need a win in one of the last two legs to guarantee that berth. Leonidas A was second to Funatthebeach N in last year's Borgata final, and it's impossible to believe that his third round performance is a true indicator of what we may yet see in the coming legs or the final. Leonidas A beat Funatthebeach N in the opening round, leaving and going coverless. He raced without cover as well in the second leg, and that may have taken something out of him entering the third round. That said, Leonidas A has had two outside draws in the first three legs, and any balancing effect in the final two races may put him in a better spot to reach the final. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter While the one-two finishers in last year's final appear fit and likely to reach this year's final, the same can't be said for the 2021 champion This Is The Plan. Facing just four horses in his third leg division on Monday and getting the pace set up to his liking, This Is The Plan could not contain Backstreet Shadow and Matt Kakaley in the homestretch. With a seventh, fifth and second-place finish to his credit, it appears that the $2.9 million-winning 8-year-old is not likely to reach the final this year. As has been custom, it would be extremely wise not to close the book on this horse yet and recognize he's bounced back with regularity in the past. Trainer Travis Alexander's impressive stable was hitting on all cylinders in the third Borgata leg, with Backstreet Shadow finally getting a win after two solid third-place efforts in the opening legs. American Courage got his first win of the year, out-sprinting Jimmy Freight in the stretch in a 1:51 mile. It was the perfect type of race for American Courage in that Kakaley didn't have to work that hard early and then had clear sailing to attack a leader (Jimmy Freight) that had been roughed up a lot in the opening quarter. From this division we saw two-time winner Idealsomemagic A finish fourth while lacking the room necessary to mount a rally. The biggest takeaway in this division was how well Jimmy Freight did race. Driver Scott Zeron sent him three-wide from post seven through the opening turn and then was parked to a 26 4/5 opening fraction. When attacked by American Courage, Jimmy Freight showed a willingness to battle on and moves into the final two legs with a solid point total, a result of noticeable improvement. Trainer Ron Burke always has a say in this series, and this year his best shot may be the 5-year-old Hellabalou, by his former star Sweet Lou. Hellabalou got caught behind a weakening Tattoo Artist after working early for the front then finished well once free. The Sweet Lou-sired import Hemsworth N came into the series kind of unknown at this level, but clearly improving with each start for trainer Jared Bako. Racing pretty much exclusively off-the-pace and working his way up the ladder, Hemsworth N left the gate and made Lochinvar Art A work for the lead on Monday. That gave him a pocket trip, and that position proved the difference when room opened to the inside in the homestretch. That said, Hemsworth N will have to climb a few more mountains to reach the rich final. With two legs remaining and a host of true contenders, the 2023 Borgata Series final is again shaping up as one that will have no dominant speed horses but a host of extremely talented and versatile ones. Half-mile track racing is at its best when horses that close can get the job done. The third round of the series may be a turning point with none of the five divisions providing a wire-to-wire winner. With valuable points remaining, it’s wise to expect more compelling divisions and a final well worth the wait.