by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — During the summer of 1975 the great pacing filly Silk Stockings won the richest race in all of racing when Preston Burris guided her to a 1:57.3 victory in the inaugural Monticello-NYC-OTB Classic here at Monticello Raceway.

Now 32 years later — nearly to the day — Preston Burris will be back in the Mighty M winner’s circle to make the presentation to the mare who wins the $201,500 final of the Silk Stockings Pace, the race named in honor of the great pacing machine.

Also that afternoon, on the stage set up on the track’s apron, six judges will decide which of the 17 contestants will be the recipient of the $7,500 first prize and be honored with the title of Ms Monticello Raceway 2007.

In spite of the pulchritude on the stage, many eyes will also be focused on the rich final of the Silk Stockings Pace, which features many of the best older pacing mares currently competing in North America.

A field of eight is set to do battle in the eighth race on the 13-race card on Sunday afternoon (July 15) and many will be watching to see if Darlin’s Delight can make amends after her third place finish in the Silk Stockings elims last week and increase her lifetime bankroll to over $1 million.

A great New York-bred daughter of Bettor’s Delight, Darlin’s Delight will be coupled with Kissmekissmekissme and race as an entry in the final as both are owned by Joe Parisi’s White Birch Farm and both are trained by Jeff Stafford.

The entry, rated 5-2 on the morning line, will see Darlin’s Delight start from post three and Kissmekissmekissme leave from the two hole. Yannick Gingras will drive the former while George Brennan will handle the latter.

Incredibly little respect is shown to Illusionist, the fastest mare ever on a double oval in Canada, and a 1:54.3 winner in her Silk Stockings elimination last week. Maybe that lack of confidence — she’s rated as 10-1 on the early line — is caused by her having to start from the eight hole.

But her driver Scott Coulter has plenty of confidence in his 6-year-old daughter of Camluck.

“This is a super mare and if we get away good in the final I feel we’ll be tough to beat,” Coulter said after he won his elim last Sunday. “I believe she’s as good as any mare currently racing, but having to leave from the eight hole isn’t the idea post position.”

Hopefull N, the other elimination winner last week (in 1:57), will also have to be contended with. She has drawn post position four and will have the talents of Brandon Givens in the sulky.

Post time for the first race on Sunday, July 15, will be at 1:10 p.m. The Ms Monticello Raceway Beauty Pageant will get underway at 12:45 p.m. that afternoon.