by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

MONTICELLO, NY – Lady Godiva rides again. After being knocked out of the box by a heavy snowstorm on Valentines Day the race, which features the talent of lady harness drivers, is once again carded and the eight participants will finally get a chance to strut their stuff on Wednesday afternoon, February 21 at Monticello Raceway.

Eight anxious contestants are studying the racing program assessing their chances in the fifth edition of the Lady Godiva Pace which will be race number three on the 13-race program that afternoon.

As what always happens in any race, some horses appear to have better chances than others which leads to a variance in odds in the contest. However, not always do the favorites prevail which is probably the factor that keeps the handicappers coming back.

However, one young lady who is undoubtedly happy after the draw for both horses and post positions is 18 year old Devan Miller, daughter of outstanding reinsman, David Miller, who drew Bring The Pain, rated as the favorite in the race by tracks odds-maker, John Flynn.

Bring The Pain, owned and trained by Matt Romano, has one win (in 1:59:4), two seconds and one third in three seasonal starts and will start from post position five.

Though Ms. Miller’s chances of victory appear to far outweigh those of Lisa Krom who drew longshot Newtown Mystic and will start from post position number eight, nothing is ever etched in stone as far as winning and losing is concerned.

Then again, two-time defending champion Jody Riedel has drawn the co-favorite in the contest, Tamarida A, and will start from the coveted rail position. If the 13-year-old veteran puts in a good mile that afternoon he could be a factor. And Leah Vandervort, who drew Debs Flying Prints from the powerful Tim Case barn, shows good times though he is still winless—he has two seconds–in four seasonal starts.

And let’s not overlook Betsy Phillips, who has thus far reined 538 winners in her illustrious career and is one of North America’s winningest lady drivers. That said, she’ll still will have a tough time getting Washpa Admiral to the finish line first but stranger things have been known to happen.

The field for this years Lady Godiva Pace lines up as follows: Timarida A (#1-Jody Riedel); Debs Flying Prints (#2-Leah Vandervort); Fox Valley Wannabe (#3-Terry Donnelly); Wild Willy Magoo (#4-Stacy Chiodo); Bring The Pain (#5- Devan Miller); Washpa Admiral (#6-Betsy Phillips); Armbro Sussex (#7- Karyn Malinowsky); and Newtown Mystic (#8- Lisa Krom).

It should be noted that the driving assignments and post positions were determined by a lottery drawing.