by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Jennifer Lappe and Polly S Turr bided their time on Monday (Feb. 15) as they shadowed the pacesetter and then rallied to a 1-1/4 length victory in Monticello Raceway’s eighth annual Lady Godiva Pace in a time of 2:00.3. Betsy Phillips and Trust Funding, who cut all the early fractions, held on for second money while 29-1 shot Cammye Beth got up to finish third for driver Leah Vandervort.

The race, which featured the talents of women drivers, was the second leg of the Mighty M’s 2010 Heritage Drivers Series.

Geri Schwarz photo

Jennifer Lappe hustled Polly S Turr to a 2:00.3 victory in the Lady Godiva Pace.

As the wings of the mobile starting gate folded Phillips sent Trust Funding to the lead from the pole position and the eventual winner, Polly S Turr, who left from the four hole, easily found room in behind the leader as the field rounded the first turn. When the field straightened in the backstretch all pacers were in line and Phillips took them by the first stanza in :29.3.

The order remained the same until halfway around the next bend when Stacy Chiodo moved Squeakmunn out to challenge and Julie Miller, driving Panna Nicole, followed Chiodo’s cover.

Still it was Phillips who got the first call as the field passed the halfway point in 1:00.3. With five in and three out as they headed for the three-quarters, Squeakmunn challenged Trust Funding for the lead but as the field neared the final turn Squeakmunn stalled which forced Miller to move Panna Nicole three-deep.

On the final turn it was still a real horse race as a blanket could have covered the entire field. But when Squeakmunn went off-stride near the eighth pole, not only did it cause Julie Miller to swing wide with Panna Nicole, but it opened a space for Jennifer Lappe and Polly S Turr to move out to challenge Trust Funding and when Polly S Turr saw daylight she shot to the lead. Once Lappe’s pacer grabbed the front she coasted home an unhurried winner.

Leah Vandervort and Cammye Beth, who never moved off the pylons, finished third, four lengths behind Polly S Turr. Terry Donnelly completed the superfecta with Grand Flare, and after being forced real wide coming off the last turn, Panna Nicole and Julie Miller ended up fifth.

“The race broke real good for me,” Lappe related after her victory. “We dropped in the two-hole and when Stacy (Chiodo with Squeakmunn) and Julie (Miller with Panna Nicole) moved at the half I felt confident that everything was going my way. It got a little tight on the last turn but when Stacy’s pacer went off-stride it allowed me plenty of room to move and when we popped out of the two-hole I began thinking about the (Godiva) chocolates and we finished an easy winner. Polly S Turr is a good little mare and a pleasure to drive.”

After the race the other seven competitors were brought to the winner’s circle from the paddock and they joined Lappe and Polly S Turr for a blanket presentation.

Though Lappe received a huge trophy she seemed more interested in the box of Godiva Chocolates which has been a standard presentation since the race’s inception. Adding to the festivities, Alan Schwartz, president of the local horsemen’s association, presented Lappe with a heart-shaped pizza which she said she’d share with the other competitors.

“The other girls can have some of the pizza — but the chocolates are off limits,” Lappe said with a laugh.

As she and her pacer left the winner’s circle she stopped and turned around and shouted. “Please give my driving and training percentages today to the Richie Ingrassia Fund.”

Ingrassia, a local trainer and driver, has suffered a terrible fate and has been hospitalized for over 60 days.