Just A Bee, just a neck away from a 1:51 mark last week, stopped the teletimer in a lifetime best 1:50.3 Monday night in Pompano Park's Open Pace for mares.
The six year-old daughter of Mr Feelgood, trained and driven by Mike Micallef for owners Anita Micallef, John McGoff and Greg Heath, took command at the opening panel in :27 and proceeded to wire subsequent fractions of :55.4 and 1:23.2 before sprinting home in :27.1 to report home a two length winner. Godiva Seelster (Wally Hennessey) did finish second with Arodasi (Joe Pavia, Jr.) third.
At the outset, Godiva Seelster looped the field from her post five to sweep into the lead prior to the first turn with Winbak Heavenly closing the gap for the early trip in the garden spot. That move forced Micallef's hand early and he sent Just A Bee on to the top spot - a position he would never relinquish the rest of the journey.
“She has been racing very well of late and just did miss last week,” said driver Micallef. “The time surprised me a bit but, remember, the weather conditions tonight were conducive to a fast mile - warm and very humid...much easier on a horse's respiratory system when it's humid like this. I'm proud of her. She was awesome!"
For Just A Bee, whose mark coming in was 1:52.2, it was her eighth win in 27 starts, pushing her 2014 earnings to $51,345. She's banked $133,666 lifetime.
(Pompano Park)