Sixteen rookie trotting fillies made their way to Mohawk Racetrack on Thursday to contest a set of $40,000 Peaceful Way Stake eliminations, but only 10 earned the right to advance to next week’s rich final.
Bee A Magician is one of those ten thanks to her 1:54.3 score for driver Rick Zeron and trainer Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman. Zeron got away fourth with the daughter of Kadabra-Beehive while Zorgwijk Nova hustled to the lead and laid down an opening quarter clocked in :29.1. Zeron didn’t sit long, however, with Bee A Magician who sprinted from fourth to first before the half.
She was in charge at the mid-way point in :58, and she proceeded to lead the group to the three-quarter pole in 1:26.4 before uncorking a :27.4 final frame to seal the deal. Zorgwijk Nova was two lengths in arrears to the 1-5 favourite, with Handover Belle finishing third. Massmanian Devil and Lady Dynamite, who were fourth and fifth, respectively, also earned a spot in next week’s final.
“She has such a wonderful kick coming for home,” said driver Rick Zeron. “It is very exhilarating, I guess, to move a two-year-old filly over like that and have that much speed coming for home.”
It was the fourth consecutive victory for the trotting lass, who is owned by Mel Hartman of Ottawa, ON along with Herb Liverman of Miami Beach and David McDuffee of Delray Beach, FL. In eight starts she’s managed to put together a 6-1-0 record while potting $233,690 in earnings.
To Dream On matched took the second elimination in an effortless manner for driver David Miller, and the filly matched her own national season’s record and her lifetime record in the process when she froze the teletimer in 1:54.
Miller tucked the Jimmy Takter-trained daughter of Credit Winner-Satin Pillows into the five-hole heading to the first turn, while Bethel Hanover headed to the front and supplied the field with a :28-second opening quarter. As soon as the field hit the backstretch, Miller hit the accelerator with To Dream On who hit another gear and motored to the lead in a matter of strides.
Once in command, the 1-9 favourite sliced through middle panels of :57 and 1:25.4 before using a :28.1 closing quarter to win by 3-1/4 lengths over Shared Past. Antsy Dancey was third, Samartina finished fourth and Online Exclusive took home a fifth-place cheque and the final spot in next week’s final.
“I only had to pull (the ear plugs) once and that was in the Merrie Annabelle final,” said driver David Miller. “Tonight she was well in hand there so I felt no need to pull them.”
It was the fifth win in as many tries for To Dream On, who is owned by Marvin Katz of Toronto and Al Libfeld of Pickering, ON. The $15,000 payday bumped her earnings to $221,332.
The $435,000 Peaceful Way will be contested at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday, September 15. Here's how the fillies will line up behind the starting gate:
$435,000 Peaceful Way Stake Final
1. Samartina
2. Bee A Magician
3. Shared Past
4. To Dream On
5. Massmanian Devil
6. Online Exclusive
7. Antsy Dancey
8. Lady Dynamite
9. Handover Belle
10. Zorgwijk Nova
(With quotes from WEG)
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.