Bee A Magician turned in dominant a stakes record performance in the $272,000 Armbro Flight for older trotting mares as she powered home to a 1:51.4 triumph.
After setting a track and Canadian record of 1:51.1 in her elimination last weekend, Bee A Magician was sent postward as the overwhelming 1-5 favourite and did not disappoint her faithful following.
Defending Armbro Flight champion Classic Martine (Tim Tetrick) left from post two with elimination winner Shake It Cerry (Yannick Gingras) in pursuit and settling into the two-hole through a :26.3 first quarter. Meanwhile, Bee A Magician settled away fourth before making her move down the backstretch.
Driver Brian Sears sent Bee A Magician first over as the field approached the half in :56.4 before rushing by Classic Martine and opening up a pair of lengths en route to three-quarters in 1:24.2. The triple millionaire continued to extend her lead down the lane and hit the wire with her rivals trailing nearly five lengths behind. Charmed Life (Jody Jamieson) closed off cover to finish second over Classic Martine and Shake It Cerry.
“I just let the race come into its own and just played it by ear,” said Sears. “She raced so good first over last week, I wasn’t going to try to and move her hard to the front. I got away in a first over position and she did the rest. I’m privileged to get the opportunity to drive a great mare like that, that’s for sure.”
Bee A Magician (Kadabra-Beehive) is now six-for-seven with earnings over $424,000 in her five-year-old campaign for owners Melvin Hartman of Ottawa, Ont., Herb Liverman of Miami Beach, Florida and David McDuffee of Delray Beach, Florida.
“She’s in a really good little groove so we haven’t been doing much with her in between races,” said trainer Nifty Norman. “It seems to really suit her and she’s thriving so we’ll keep racing her.”
Norman said he thinks the 2013 Horse of the Year is only getting better with age.
The 37-time career winner will be returning to New Jersey for a couple of weeks rest and she is expected to race next in the Miss Versatility leg at The Meadowlands on July 18.
(Standardbred Canada)
