by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — When the pacers come down the homestretch in Monticello Raceway’s Lady Godiva Pace on Monday afternoon (Feb. 15) one thing will be for sure and that is a lady driver will win the event.

“It’s a foregone given, especially since every driver in the race will be a woman,” chuckled Eric Warner, the track’s Director of Racing. “It is again our pleasure to offer a harness race especially for the ladies. This will be the eighth consecutive year that we will present our Lady Godiva Pace.”

The event, usually featured on Valentine’s Day, had to be raced one day later since the Mighty M is not in harness on Sunday, Feb. 14.

Slated as race number six on the 13-race card that afternoon, eight ladies are set to give their all.

Post positions, as well as driving assignments, have recently been drawn and each by the usual lottery system although Jennifer Lappe will drive Pollys Turr, a pacer she owns and trains.

Making her Lady Godiva debut will be Julie Miller, who’s not only an outstanding trainer but a darn good driver in her own right. She and hubby Andy handle a large stable based in northern New Jersey and among the horses that Julie trains is Lucky Jim, who’ll receive a Dan Patch Award as the Older Male Trotter of the Year at the upcoming USHWA banquet at Yonkers Casino & Raceway on Feb. 28.

But luck wasn’t on Julie’s side when the mount she drew, Panna Nicole, got the eight hole in the upcoming Lady Godiva Pace on Monday.

She’ll be joined in that contest by a host of talented women drivers including Monticello’s own Betsy Phillips, a winner of 548 races and a Lady Godiva Pace winner in 2008. Phillips has drawn Trust Funding and the pole position which will inevitably make her one of the ladies to beat in the contest.

Coming in from Freehold Raceway are three talented lady drivers — Doreen Dailey, Stacy Chiodo and Leah Vandervort. Dailey, who won last year’s event, drew the early favorite in Hurrikane Shannonk who’ll start from post six, while Chiodo, who owns one of the fastest miles ever by a lady driver, will be up behind Squeakmunn and will start from post position three. Vandervort, a winner of 56 races thus far in her career, will handle Cammy Beth and they’ll leave from the two hole in Monday’s contest.

Terry Donnelly, a longtime member of many amateur driving clubs including the Billings Series, has drawn post position five with Grand Flare. Donnelly lit up the tote board when she won the 2004 edition with a 70-1 shot and paid $148.50 for win.

Jennifer Lappe, currently tied for third locally in training victories, will leave from post position four with her own Polly Turr. And rounding out the competitive field will be Lisa Krom, who last season won the local scribes’ Comeback of the Year Award after harnessing 52 winners here. She’ll drive Mare Supply and start from the seven hole.

First post for the Monday card is at the usual 12:25 p.m. with post time for the Lady Godiva Pace set for 2:05 p.m.