by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Doreen Dailey took time out from her seven-horse stable in the Freehold, N.J. area to drive to Monticello Raceway just to compete in the seventh annual Lady Godiva Pace on Tuesday afternoon, February 17. And her trip proved fruitful when she guided Bali Mystic N to a neck victory over Art’s Investment, driven by Jennifer Lappe. Stacy Chiodo, another gal who also came in from Freehold Raceway, finished third with In Dire Need.

Doreen Dailey hustled Bali Mystic N to a 2:00.1 victory in the Lady Godiva Pace.

The final time of 2:00.1 is an event record, having eclipsed the 2:00.3 mark set in 2007 when Devan Miller guided Bring The Pain to victory in the race strictly for women drivers.

Dailey started slowly from the pole position and got away third along the pylons. Content to let Jennifer Lappe and Art’s Investment cut the swift early fractions Dailey and Bali Mystic N moved past the half and they made their way to the front as the field paced off the Clubhouse turn the second time around.

However, after passing the pacesetter, Bali Mystic N was put to the task in the deep stretch when the pacer’s stride shortened and Art’s Investment made a late charge but ran out of racetrack.

“I was caught by surprise when the (starting) gate left so quickly but we still were in good shape in third (position) at the quarter which went in :28.4,” Dailey said. “The seven horse (Art’s Investment) cut swift fractions and when I moved for the lead I think I caught her driver (Jennifer Lappe) by surprise because we paced around to the lead fairly easy. We extended our lead in the final turn and we surely needed it because Art’s Investment came back at us in the deep stretch but my horse had enough left to hold off the challenge.”

As the winner Dailey received a huge trophy and a box of Godiva Chocolates. The winning horse took home the blanket and the winning owners, Ken Clairmont and Lucia Ann Les, took home the lion’s share of the purse.

Geri Schwarz photos

Director of Racing Eric Warner presents the trophy to Doreen Dailey after her victory with Bali Mystic N.

Many of the women who competed in the event traveled a long distance just to do so.

Mary Birkhold, who drove Raider’s Sweetheart, came in from Sarasota, Fla., while Sally Rawlings, who handled JL Lucy, came in from the midwest.

The others in the contest were all previous Lady Godiva Pace winners. They included local gals Betsy Phillips, Jody Reidel and Terry Donnelly.

New this year is that fact that the Lady Godiva Pace is now part of Ann Curran’s International Mildred Williams Women’s Driving Series and as part of that series the competing women donated their driving percentages to charity. The charity of choice at Monticello was the American Heart Association.

All the competitors were offered lunch in the Racino after the race and most took advantage of that. All but the winner, Doreen Dailey, that is.

“I had a great time and the win will help me towards getting my “A” (full license). I appreciate the lunch offer but now I’ll have to hustle back to Freehold to put away (make comfortable) my seven horses for the evening,” Dailey said.