by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — The local streams were swollen beyond capacity and the excessive rain, which had already spewed over four inches of liquid on the earth in the Catskills, changed to snow showers, but despite the inclemency the show still went on at Monticello Raceway on Monday, April 16.

The final race times were slowed by the muddy racetrack and a card which usually produces an inordinate amount of sub-2:00 miles only had two in the 13 races offered that afternoon. And as one would surmise, the fastest came in the weekly $14,300 Mares Preferred Pace, the feature race on the afternoon program.

Racehorsephoto.com photo

Through snow and mud My Fine Lady (#2) turned back Jezzabell Hotspur (#4) and Casino Miss (#7) to win the Mares Preferred Pace.

Seven of the best pacing mares on the grounds locked horns in the eighth race. Casino Miss, a bridesmaid in two of her last three outings, was gunned away form the starting gate by driver Stephane Bouchard, and even though she left from post position seven, Casino Miss had the lead at the quarter pole when the timer flashed :27.4.

Bouchard gave his mare a short breather, but as the field approached the halfway distance, Jimmy Devaux moved My Fine Lady up to challenge for the lead. From there the two mares raced eye-ball to eyeball around the clubhouse turn and were still a team as they passed the three-quarter pole in 1:27.4.

Though the pace began to slow as they rounded the final turn, still the two leaders were side-by-side, but at the top of the stretch they were joined by Jezzabell Hotspur and driver Billy Parker, Jr. At that point track announcer Howard Oil stole a line from Dave Johnson when he shouted “and down the stretch they come”. And come they did, three abreast, and in the final strides Casino Miss tired and Jezzabell Hotspur rallied a bit, but the mare that went the overland trip from the half, My Fine Lady, prevailed, albeit by just a head in a 1:59 clocking.

The falling snow dappled the finish line photo and gave it unusual character. Still there was no doubt that Canadian owned My Fine Lady outlasted Jezzabell Hotpsur, with Casino Miss visible along the pylons in third place.

“I’ve had this mare (My Fine Lady) a couple of months. She’s is owned by the same people who own Drinking Games (who won a few mares Preferred Paces here earlier this season),” trainer Art Green explained. “She (My Fine Lady) ruffed it today, first up from the half, but she hung tough.”

Then he paused and added with a smile, “She’s a pretty nice mare, ain’t she?”

Owned by R. James Shive of Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia, the 5-year-old daughter of Dream Away was overlooked by the betting crowd and paid $21.00 for win.

For winning driver Jimmy Devaux it was one of three victories on the wet and snowy afternoon card. He also scored with Katrina Maree N (1:59.2) in the first race and with Total Mayhem (2:04) in the fourth.