Trainer Nifty Norman hesitated before answering the question. “To be honest and maybe I shouldn’t be saying this, but she physically looks even bigger and stronger this year. It is actually quite fascinating.”

It is hard to imagine how Bee A Magician could be even better as a six-year-old than she has been throughout her sure-to-be Hall of Fame career. The daughter of Kadabra out the Balanced Image mare Beehive has earned more than $3.85 million during her four years on the racetrack and holds the unique accomplishment of winning at least one race worth $250,000 or more at ages two, three, four and five. Bee A Magician is one of 15 horses, and one of only two mares, nominated to the inaugural $150,000 Mack Lobell Elitlopp Playoff at The Meadowlands on May 8. The winner receives an invitation to the prestigious Elitlopp in Sweden on May 29.

“How many horses have raced five years and been a major stakes winner every year?” asked Norman. “It’s not often you get one in your barn that you get to see develop and grow for six years. She still changes and matures and it has just been such a pleasure to be around her.”

Bee A Magician kicked off her 2016 season with a fast-closing third-place finish in a Meadowlands qualifier last Saturday morning behind major stakes winners Shake It Cerry and Crazy Wow, both of whom are also pointing to the Mack Lobell Elitlopp Playoff. Bee A Magician will qualify again this Saturday then likely race once before the Playoff, according to Norman.

The Mack Lobell Elitlopp Playoff is shaping up to be a must-see early season showdown featuring a “who’s who” of the sport’s premier older trotter. Dan Patch champion trotters JL Cruze and Shake It Cerry face off Friday at The Meadowlands while Breeders Crown winner Creatine and TVG Free For All champion Resolve are among the horses that face Bee A Magician in Saturday morning’s qualifier. European import and Playoff nominee Perfectly Enough is also in that same qualifying heat.

“This looks like a really strong race with all of those horses pointing towards it and it should be really intriguing with the possibility of going to the Elitlopp in Sweden,” said Norman. “I am very interested to see how it plays out.”

Fans that wish to follow along the road to the Mack Lobell Elitlopp Playoff may visit a special website that will provide the latest news and profiles of all nominated horses at elitloppplayoff.com and follow along on social media using #ElitloppPlayoff.

(The Meadowlands)