Bee A Magician surpassed the $3 million career earnings mark with her 1:53.3 triumph in the $200,000 Charlie Hill Memorial Trot at Scioto Downs on Saturday night.
Sent postward as the 1-9 favourite, Bee A Magician trotted out to the lead, overtaking early leaver DWs NY Yank just past the :28-second first quarter pole and then cruised through middle splits of :57.2 and 1:26.1. DWs NY Yank launched a late challenge from the pocket turning into the stretch with the first over Natural Herbie and three-wide Lindys Tru Grit losing ground, but Bee A Magician held on to win a neck in 1:53.3. Il Sogno Dream finished over three lengths back in third.
"The mare, she scored down not so quiet tonight, but I was able to get some cheap fractions, which I think I needed," noted Sears after the race. "She raced well, but I don't think she was really on her A-game tonight.
"She started off the year very well and did everything we asked. She got it done tonight, but like I said, I've seen her a little bit better."
The 2013 Horse of the Year won the first three races of her five-year-old campaign, including her historic Arthur J. Cutler Memorial triumph, and was second in the Maxie Lee Memorial last time out on May 24. Her victory in the Charlie Hill pushed her seasonal earnings to $270,735 and lifetime bankroll to $3,020,886. The daughter of Kadabra now has 35 career wins in 52 starts racing for trainer Richard 'Nifty' Norman and owners Melvin Hartman, Herb Liverman and David McDuffee.
Saturday's undercard featured four $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes for three-year-old colts and geldings with pacers Dyno Mite Man (1:54.3, Mike Wilder) and Indian Spirit (1:54.3, Kyler Ater) winning their respective divisions and Chips Starr (1:57, Hugh Beatty) and defending champion Neelys Messenger (1:55.3, Dan Noble) taking the trotting splits.
In the $25,000 Open Pace, Lets Drink On It took the lead after a :54 half and drew off through a :26.2 third quarter to win in 1:49 flat with Aaron Merriman driving for trainer Joe Seekman.