Victory Drink of the Month: Belle Vodka’s Helles Belle, the ideal winner’s circle cocktail!

The Race: Breeders’ Cup Classic

The Venue: Churchill Downs

The Date: Nov. 3, 2018

The Winner: Accelerate

The Toast: To a fitting end to a Horse of the Year-worthy campaign. Accelerate capped his 5-year-old season with a one-length win in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (watch the replay here). That was his fifth Grade 1 win of the year and places him squarely in the discussion for 2018 Horse of the Year honors with unbeaten Triple Crown winner Justify, who was retired last summer. Debate is sure to be heated over the next couple of months before the Eclipse Awards are announced at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24.

After the Race: A perfect cocktail for the turn of the season, with colder weather settling in and holiday racing gearing up for the end of the month.

What’s Next: Churchill Downs just hosted the Breeders’ Cup for the record-tying ninth time, but the iconic Louisville track offers top-class racing through its fall meet, and the track’s schedule during the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend has several important races. On Friday, Nov. 23, older dirt horses face off in the Clark Handicap, and on Saturday, Nov. 24, promising 2-year-old colts and fillies race in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and the Golden Rod Stakes, respectively, early preps for the 2019 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and the Longines Kentucky Oaks.

The Ingredients:

• Equal parts (0.5 ounces) Belle Vodka and Bacardi 151

How to Make It:

• Serve over ice and garnish with cinnamon shavings.
• Optional: serve with coffee.