We are thrust into a game of strip poker with high stakes as a man is down to his boxer shorts and a woman is wearing a bra and panties. Both are seated on a couch, trying to stare the other down. Who’s bluffing and who’s got the game well in hand?
It turns out the guy has the upper hand, not due to any prowess in card playing but the intervention of a third party unbeknownst to the woman. That other person is a horse racing jockey who’s standing behind the woman with a mirror, revealing the gal’s cards to her opponent.
After tipping the scales in the man’s favor, the jockey hides in a nearby armoire. The guy wins the hand and the gal starts to remove her bra.
The spot cuts away before any more flesh is revealed, instead disclosing the jockey’s motivation: “We want you to win,” which is the slogan for race track Golden Gate Fields.
Though there’s a bit of a stretch to accepting the notion that a gambling venue wants its customers to win, the spot nonetheless makes a humorous pitch for coming out to the track for a day of fun–and hopefully successful wagering.
Zach Math of Santa Monica-based Furlined directed this spot, titled “Strip Poker,” and two others in the campaign, which was conceived by a creative team at DDB San Francisco.
The agency ensemble included chief creative officer Lisa Bennett, executive creative director Mike Andrews, copywriter Andrew Crocker and producer DP Odishoo.
Diane McArter and David Thorne executive produced for Furlined, with Gary Bryman serving as producer. The DP was Eric Haase.
Editor was Kelly McClean of King Cut, Venice, Calif. Tamsin Prigge executive produced for King Cut. Colorist was Marshall Plante of The Syndicate, Santa Monica.
Sound designer/audio post mixer was Jeff Payne of Eleven, Santa Monica. Music composer was Tom Brousseau, a Santa Monica-based freelancer.
The principal actors in “Strip Poker” were Brian Appel and Julie Skon.
