EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — Before The Meadowlands Racetrack starting gate had even pulled away from the 2013 Hambletonian Oaks field on Saturday afternoon, elimination winner Bee A Magician looked like a champion.
Starting from Post 2 driver Brian Sears settled the Ontario-sired filly in fifth spot on the rail, looking completely relaxed and in control. When rival To Dream On started up the outside Bee A Magician followed along and simply sailed past the early leaders to reach the front before the :54.1 half.
From there the outcome was never in doubt as the top sophomore trotting filly on the planet extended her win streak to nine with an open length victory in 1:51.4, just four-fifths of a second off the world record she set at The Meadowlands on July 13.
“I just want to say it’s an honor to get the call on a mare like this because she’s very special, and I just want to thank the owners and everybody involved,” said Sears after the win. “I think she is a great gaited filly, and she’s all race horse, and she just does it so easily.”
Ottawa, ON resident Mel Hartman shares ownership of the trotting superstar with Montreal, QC native Herb Liverman and David McDuffee, who both make their homes in Florida. Richard “Nifty” Norman of New Jersey trains Bee A Magician, whose triumph in the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks boosted her lifetime earnings to $1,540,903 and marked her nineteenth appearance in the winner’s circle.
The daughter of Kadabra is expected to make her tenth start in the August 10 Mid-Summer Challenge at Mohawk Racetrack, giving Ontario Sires Stakes fans their second opportunity to see her in action against her provincial counterparts. In Bee A Magician’s first Gold Series appearance this season she and Oakville, ON reinsman Rick Zeron rocketed around the Mohawk oval to an Ontario Sires Stakes record 1:52.2.