by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — The fifth edition of Monticello Raceway’s Maple Leaf Pace, which will go to post on Monday afternoon, May 24, is an event for drivers of Canadian heritage and the fifth leg of the track’s Heritage Drivers Series.

Eight drivers will battle with the winner earning a berth in the series finale — The All-America Pace — which will be presented in early October.

Of the eight participating, Travis Henry and Maxime Velaye will be traveling in from Ontario just to compete in the event. Both young turks are up-and-coming drivers who are just beginning to launch their careers. Henry is just 21 years of age while Velaye is only 22. Both are currently racing at Flamboro Downs. Henry will handle Little Rosey and start from post position three while Velaye has JJ Lucy from the seven hole.

Canadian born Mark Gingrich, a winner of 603 races and purses in excess of $5.2 million, will travel to the Mighty M from Pocono Downs to compete. He drew Call Shawnie and will start from post six.

Jimmy Devaux is driving Mojo Mama, the 5-2 favorite.

The race also features the Devaux brothers, Jimmy and Ken, both Mighty M regulars. Jimmy, a former Monticello Raceway driving champion, has recorded 2,425 career driving victories and already has 61 wins this year. He has drawn the weak race favorite in Mojo Mama, and they will leave from post five. Ken, one other hand, has Bolt of Silk from the two hole.

Noticeably missing from the Maple Leaf Pace is John Gilmour. But Gilmour already has a berth in the All America Pace, having won the St Paddy Pace on March 17.

According to Eric Warner, the track’s Director of Racing, the Maple Leaf Pace is a wide-open affair.

“Though it (the Maple Leaf Pace) does not have a powerful field all the horses are of about equal quality and anyone has a chance to win this race,” Warner said. “There are no standouts and like most races driving strategy and racing luck will determine the winner.”

Drivers were assigned to their horses by a lottery drawing and the field for the Maple Leaf Pace — with early line odds — lines up as follows:1-Notimefordreaming (Bruce Borden-7-2); 2-Bolt Of Silk (Ken Devaux-4-1); 3-Little Rosey (Travis Henry-10-1); 4-Heidi’s Character (Mike Doherty-5-1); 5-Mojo Mama (Jimmy Devaux-5-2); 6-Call Shawnie (Mark Gingrich-12-1); 7-JJ Lucy (Maxime Velaye-3-1); and 8-Fox Valley Sonja (Terry Finch-8-1).

The Maple Leaf Pace will be the sixth race on the 13-race card on Monday, May 24. First post will be at 12:50 p.m. with the approximate post time of the Maple Leaf Pace at 2:40 p.m.