by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Mike Forte’s 158 winners here ranks him third on the Monticello Raceway leaderboard and according to the track oddsmaker he has a good chance of adding to his win total when he jumps up behind the favorite Velvety Smooth in the track’s Godfather Pace on Monday afternoon (August 27).

The pole position and a 1:57.4 victory earlier this season probably had a great deal to do with the 4-year-old I’m A Fool mare being tabbed the early line choice.

The event will be the sixth leg in the year-long Heritage Drivers Series.

However, Velvety Smooth can expect a serious challenge from Kewlgurl and driver Kyle DiBenedetto, especially if the mare can find a spot along the pylons after leaving from the eight hole. Her fastest victory this year was in a time of 1:59.2.

Although Girls Love Diamonds, who’ll start from post five, only has a seasonal best of 2:02 taken on a muddy track, the 5-year-old The Panderosa mare has been individually clocked in 1:55 and a piece multiple times in earlier outings. She’ll be driven by Matt Zuccarello.

Two-time defending champ, Jimmy Marohn, Jr., will be looking for the winner’s circle again this year when he drives Biding Her Time from post position four.

Last month Germany’s Wim Paal drove in the Munich Mile and this month we have a native Italian, Antonino Buttitta from Palermo, Italy, starting for the first time in the Godfather Pace, noted Eric Warner, the track’s director of racing.

As usual, Warner has put together a very competitive race with virtually no stick-outs.

“The field is very well balanced and appears to be extremely competitive so it’ll be a wide-open affair with almost any of the starters having a chance to win,” Warner added.

The pacers will line-up with post positions and odds as follows: 1-Velvety Smooth (Mike Forte-5-2); 2-True Gritty (Rock Vinci-8-1); 3-Lei Day (Greg Annaloro-9-2); 4-Biding Her Time (Jimmy Marohn-10-1); 5-Girls Love Diamonds (Matt Zuccarello-7-2); 6-Satin Sweetheart (John De Simone-12-1); 7-Shezaflamintower (Antonino Buttitta-3-1); and 8-Kewlgurl (Kyle DiBenedetto-4-1).

Later this fall the winner of the Godfather Pace will represent Italian-Americans in the Heritage Drivers Series Final, dubbed the All America Cup.

The Godfather Pace is slated as race number four on the 12-race card of August 27. First post will be at 12:50 p.m.