Just A Bee, driven by Mike Micallef and 'stung,' herself, halfway through the mile, got the last fatal sting to her competition when it counted as she edged by late to score a half-length win in 1:51.1 in Pompano Park's $15,000 Open Handicap Pace for mares on Wednesday night.
The eight-year-old daughter of Mr Feelgood pinned the narrow defeat on Godiva Seelster, handled by Wally Hennessey, and Pertty Music, with Kevin Wallis in the bike -- the latter two finishing in a dead-heat for the place honours. All Charged Up finished fourth in the mile with Dreas Good Powow picking up the final award in the octet.
It was an action packed race as there were five lead changes during the mile with All Charged Up, teamed with John MacDonald, bolting to the front. Pertty Music settled in the garden spot and Classic Carpet was next during a hot opener of :26.1.
That's when Just A Bee brushed up from fourth, followed by Godiva Seelster. 'Bee' reached the top prior to the half, clocked in :55.1, with 'Godiva' joining her in a battle for supremacy entering the backside.
Through an official third panel in :27.1, Godiva Seelster had a clear lead past that station in 1:22.2 and was trying to protect that in the lane with both Just A Bee and Pertty Music closing in.
In deep stretch, Just A Bee stung her rivals one last time to narrowly prevail at the wire.
In a post-race interview, Micallef said, "My mare never ceases to amaze me. She just never, ever quits.
"She's gone a lot of great miles for us -- some even a little faster -- but this was one of her great performances. And she did this against some of her stiffest competition as both Wally's mare [Godiva Seelster] and Kevin's mare [Pertty Music] are in this same class."
Just A Bee won for the fourth time this semester in nine starts, increasing her earnings to $33,230 in the process.
Lifetime, she's at $307,714, including $186,965 since she was claimed for $12,000 about 18 months ago by Anita Micallef, John McGoff and Greg Heath. Of her 43 lifetime wins, 22 have come since she has been under the care of trainer/driver Micallef.
As the even-money toteboard favourite, Just A Bee returned $4.20 to win.
In finishing in that dead-heat for second, Godiva Seelster kept her streak of earning purse cheques alive, now standing at an amazing 78 starts dating back through her seasons as a three, four, five and, thus far, six-year-old season.
(With files from Pompano Park)