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

The Race: Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes

The Venue: Gulfstream Park

The Date: Jan. 26, 2018

The Winner: City of Light

The Toast: To the career finales of two amazing horses. City of Light, last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner, ended his stint on the racetrack with an overpowering 5 ¾-length score, while third-place Accelerate, the reigning Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and champion older dirt male of 2018, did his connections proud despite suffering his first defeat after four consecutive Grade 1 wins. Both horses headed to Kentucky right after the Pegasus to begin their stud careers side by side at Lane’s End Farm. (WATCH REPLAY OF THE PEGASUS)

After the Race: It’s February, and aside from Valentine’s Day and horse racing, we’re in the winter doldrums. What better time to spice things up with the kick of a classic bloody mary, using Belle Vodka as the key ingredient?

What’s Next: We stay in South Florida for what’s usually a crucial Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve prep for East Coast contenders: the $400,000 Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 2. Top Derby contenders at Gulfstream Park will convene to contest the 1 1/16-mile race, which has been won in recent years by the likes of Gunnevera, Orb, Union Rags, Quality Road, and Scat Daddy. Gulfstream knows how to throw a party, as shown during their Pegasus World Cup festivities despite a torrential downpour, and we’ve got fingers crossed for some sunshine on Fountain of Youth day.

The Ingredients:

• 1.5 ounces of Belle Vodka
• Bloody Mary mix, lime juice, horseradish, Worcestershire Sauce, A1, Tabasco, salt and pepper

How to Make It:

• Garnish with celery and spicy seasoned rum