by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Canadian Maritimers Trevin Shive and John Philpott were two happy guys on Tuesday afternoon, January 16 — and for good reason. Their 5-year-old Cam’s Card Shark mare, Drinking Games, had just won the $15,000 Mares Preferred Pace at Monticello Raceway and the two heard the action via telephone, which arguably enhanced their experience.

Nearing post time for the eighth race that day Shive called the Mighty M publicity office asking why he couldn’t view the race on Youbet.com. After checking all avenues it was determined that, for some reason, Youbet was down that afternoon but he was offered the chance to hear the race live from the publicity office, a suggestion that he and his partner embraced.

So the audio was turned-up loud and the phone held to the television in the PR office and the two owners listened intently to Howard Oil’s race call.

Now in the care of trainer Art Green, Drinking Games had a new pilot in Eric Goodell. And though she was a well-beaten fourth in her last start, Green agreed to race the mare against the best of her gender currently on the grounds. And he was rewarded by having Drinking Games assigned to post position one.

Listed on the morning line at odds of 12-1 by the track oddsmaker, John Flynn, Drinking Games was sent off at post time by the betting public at odds of over 40-1.

Racehorsephoto.com photo

Drinking Games was well in hand at the wire in the Monticello feature.

Goodell set sails from the start and let Jimmy Devaux take command with Natural Woman N in the first turn and wouldn’t let Gareth Dowse and She’s My Belle down along the pylons as they challenged looking for a hole. Dowse then settled She’s Me Belle in behind Drinking Games in third position in the early going.

As luck would have it for the Drinking Games connection, Natural Woman N carried the field to the top of the lane with Goodell, shadowing the leader, just biding his time waiting for the passing lane. And when the room opened along the pylons in the homestretch, Drinking Games fired and rumbled to the lead and was still well in hand at the wire in a 2:00.3 clocking over a track softened by two days of rain. Bliss N Vinegar rallied to be second for Mike Forte and Camaronni N Cheese finished third for Stephane Bouchard.

Meanwhile back in the Maritimes, Shive and Philpott heard the entire Howard Oil race-call and after the contest were as joyous as if they had won a major stakes races. When told that the mare went off at odds of 40-1 they yelped one more time since they said that they wheeled Drinking Games on top in the trifecta (triactor in Canada).

Drinking Games paid $83.00, $23.80 and $21.80 across the board. Oh yeah, the trifecta paid $1,589. So it was a great day for the Canadian owners.