CAMPBELLVILLE, June 20…Bee A Magician, the 2013 Horse of the Year, made her rivals disappear down the stretch, scoring an effortless four and three-quarter length victory over longshot Charmed Life in the $272,000 Armbro Flight for filly and mare trotters at Mohawk Racetrack, part of a star-studded stakes harness racing undercard on Pepsi North America Cup night.
Named for Canada’s Horse of the Year in 1964, 1965 and 1966, the Armbro Flight showcased not only the eventual winner, but also 2014 Trotter of the Year Shake It Cerry and the defending race champion, Classic Martine.
But it proved no contest. Bee A Magician and driver Brian Sears, sent postward the overwhelming 1-5 choice, popped out from fourth and took over from Classic Martine after the half was reached in :56.4.
From there, after opening six lengths while getting three-quarters in 1:24.2, it was just a question of how far the five-year-old mare would win by, as she clipped a fifth of a second off the stakes record set by Buck I St Pat in 2010, completing the mile in 1:51.4. Classic Martine held on for third with Shake It Cerry fourth.
The daughter of Kadabra-Beehive came into the final sporting five wins in six starts this year, including an easy 1:51.1 four-length elim win last week for trainer Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman.
“I just let the race come into its own, just playing it by ear,” said Sears, celebrating his third Armbro Flight success, following Stroke Play in 2004 and Pembroke Heat Wave in 2012. “She raced so good first-over last week I wasn’t going to try to move her hard to the front. I got away in first-over position and she did the rest. I’m just thrilled to get the opportunity to drive a great mare like that.
”She’s one of the top horses I’ve gotten the opportunity to drive,” continued Sears, who also drove greats like Rocknroll Hanover and Muscle Hill to major wins and year-end honours.
Added Norman, “She’s in a really good little groove. Haven’t done much with her between races. It seems to really suit her. She’s thriving. I think she’s getting better. We’ll give her a couple of weeks off then go to the Meadowlands.”
Bee A Magician was winning her 37th race in 54 starts. As a three-year-old, she went undefeated in 17 outings, earning over $1.5 million en route to Horse of the Year honours in both Canada and the United States.
After a subpar 2014 season, winning just four of 17 starts, Bee A Magician has returned with a vengeance and has now earned almost $3.2 million for owners Melvin Hartman of Ottawa, Herb Liverman of Miami Beach and David McDuffee of Delray Beach, Florida.
Bee A Magician paid $2.60, $2.40 and $2.10, combining with Charmed Life ($13.20, $6.80) for a $24.90 (5-6) exactor. A 5-6-2 (Classic Martine, $4.30) triactor was worth $102.50, while a $1 Superfecta [5-6-2-3 (Shake It Cerry)] returned $114.60.
WEG Entertainment