CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — After competing over half and five-eighths mile ovals through the first two Gold Series events, two-year-old trotting filly Bee A Magician got a chance to stretch her legs and show off her skills at Mohawk Racetrack in last week’s Gold Eliminations.
Back at the Campbellville oval for Thursday’s $130,000 Gold Final, the long-legged youngster once again took advantage of the extended stretch to deliver her first Gold Series sweep.
Starting from Post 4, driver Rick Zeron loafed along behind the starting gate and settled Bee A Magician into eighth spot as Cardio Pump hustled out to a :13.1 opening eighth. As driver Randy Waples kept the pedal down on Cardio Pump — who reached the quarter in :27 — Zeron shifted Bee A Magician to the outside, but remained unconcerned about making up ground on the leader.
Seven and three-quarter lengths on top at the :56.4 half, on a track rated one second slower than normal, Cardio Pump soon began to run out of gas and was just one-half length ahead of the field when she staggered by the three-quarters in 1:27.4.
By the halfway marker Wind Stroll was leading the parade of fillies in the outside lane, followed by former Gold Final champion Legzy and Bee A Magician. The trio marched steadily along past the three-quarters, but Zeron soon decided it was time to let Bee A Magician roll and when he tipped out from behind the other two fillies, the fan favourite simply left them in her wake, accelerating down the stretch to a five length victory in a personal best 1:56.4.
Legzy trotted into second and Bee A Magician’s stablemate Choir Robe, who was ninth at the three-quarter marker, closed hard to earn the third-place share of the $130,000 Gold Final purse. Reigning Gold Final champion Charmed Life settled for fourth and Motown Muscle completed the money earners.
Oakville resident Zeron engineered the win for trainer Richard “Nifty” Norman and owners Melvin Hartman of Ottawa, Herb Liverman of Miami Beach, FL and David McDuffee of Delray Beach, FL, who offered up $90,000 for the daughter of Kadabra and Beehive at last fall’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale. The group also shares ownership of third-place finisher Choir Robe, who was bred by Liverman and McDuffee.
Bee A Magician has been flawless in Gold Elimination action, garnering three trophies, but Thursday night marked her first triumph in a Gold Final. In the July 5 season opener at Kawartha Downs she made a break from the trailing Post 9 and finished eighth and could not quite catch Charmed Life at the wire from the outside Post 8 at Flamboro Downs on July 22.
Through six starts Bee A Magician boasts a record of four wins and one third for earnings of $157,500.
The two-year-old trotting fillies will meet for the fourth time on August 17 at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
Over the next four days Mohawk Racetrack hosts a pair of Grassroots events, welcoming the three-year-old trotting fillies on Friday (Aug. 10) and the two-year-old pacing colts on Monday (Aug. 13). Post time for both programs is 7:10 pm.
For complete results please go to Mohawk Racetrack Results — August 9, 2012