She's not Just A Bee anymore...she's the Queen Bee.
Just A Bee, scored a repeat victory in Pompano Park's $14,000 Open Handicap for fillies and mares on Monday night and, in doing so, stamped herself as the Queen Bee in a well endowed group of fillies and mares in her top class.
The talented six-year-old daughter of Mr Feelgood, trained and driven by Mike Micallef for the consortium of Anita Micallef, John Mc Goff and Greg Heath, held off the furious late surge of De Vins Girl, handled by Rick Plano, to score by a neck in 1:51.4 to garner her 10th win of the year. Mcflirty, with Ricky Macomber, Jr. in the bike, finished third.
As the starting gate sprung the ladies loose, the 40-1 outsider, Glam Cam, blasted out with unusual alacrity, reaching the quarter in a snappy :26.1 with P L Hula settling in the pocked--though briefly--with Just A Bee also on the engine along with Mcflirty with the latter two having no problems finding spots in third and fourth, respectively. Right past the opener, P L Hula, driven by Kevin Wallis, circled up to take command and proceeded to take the field to a blazing half in :53.4.
On the backside, Micallef sent Just A Bee charging up and was just a half-length away from P L Hula at the third station in 1:22.2. Though P L Hula was in a brave and fighting mood, Just a Bee was able to squeak by in mid-stretch, holding off the surging De Vins Girl at the line with Mcflirty and P L Hula also in the picture for top honours.
“My mare is very sharp...but so are the others and the three that were with me at the wire, well, we're very evenly matched at this point...especially Luca's (trainer Derrico) mare (De Vins Girl) who was really flying late,” said driver Mike Micallef.
As the even money favourite, Just A Bee returned $4.00 to win.
She's now banked $66,345 for the year and $148,666 lifetime to go along with her mark of 1:50.3 set three starts back.
(Pompano Park)